The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has been “rocked by crises of mismanagement, corruption and an unstable board for 15 years” according to the country’s main opposition party.
HumanIPO reported earlier today Mike Siluma, the SABC’s head of radio news and current affairs, will temporarily fill the position as chief operating officer previously filled by Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
Marian Shinn, shadow minister of communications, said “radical action” is necessary to initiate a “credible, appropriately skilled, experienced and politically neutral leadership” to bring about the SABC’s turnaround strategy.
Shinn said she had written to Sikhumbuzo Kholwane, chairperson of the Parliament’s Portfolio Committee of Communications, requesting him to convene a meeting for the purpose of holding discussions for a “way forward for the SABC out of its current crises”.
br />Shinn said further the DA is pleased with Motsoeneng’s removal because he was not qualified to hold the position.
She is also of the opinion that Motsoeneng abused his position “to control editorial and advertising content to suit his ANC friends”.
Shinn added: “The circumstances of his removal give rise to grave concern about the credibility of the board and its leadership.”
An example of this may include the decision Motsoeneng took to ban the Fish & Chip advertisement depicting president Jacob Zuma and his family having dinner at his controversial Nkandla residence.
“South Africa needs to hear why the chair of the board, Dr Ben Ngubane, apparently declined to attend the unscheduled board meeting that was called in Cape Town yesterday after a decision was made to cancel the board’s meeting with the portfolio committee,” said Shinn.
Shinn said some members of the board may have been unhappy with the report written by Motsoeneng, which detailed the status of the Special Investigating Unit’s charges against both former and current SABC board members and employees as well as the progress of investigations.
“I understand that both Dr Ngubane and Mr Motsoeneng were shocked by the board’s decision to remove the latter and that Dr Ngubane asked that Mr Motsoeneng first be moved to another post within the SABC,” said Shinn.
Shinn said further: “This would enable him to save face by giving him an opportunity to tender his resignation and negotiate an exit package. Mr Motsoeneng was given the post of group executive: provinces; the same position he held before being appointed acting COO.”
