Twist in SABC suspensions

2008-05-07 11:52

Makhudu Sefara

Johannesburg - The SABC group chief executive Dali Mpofu was suspended last night, a few hours after suspending the public broadcaster's head of news Snuki Zikalala.

And while media reports have claimed the Zikalala suspension was due to the leaking of a board document, City Press can reveal that this is wrong.

The document in question relates to a labour case involving a former current affairs executive producer for Lesedi FM who was fired last year and whose reinstatement Mpofu wanted Zikalala to effect.

Mpofu's suspension was confirmed by board chairperson Khanyisile Mkonza. While Mpofu was cagey with the details of Zikalala's suspension, so was Mkonza on Mpofu's.

But City Press has established that both suspensions are related to the mooted re-instatement of a controversial radio executive producer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, who has strong links to ANC president Jacob Zuma.

Strong allegations

Motsoeneng worked for Lesedi FM's current affairs before his axing last year for allegedly giving undue salary increases and promotions to women. His axing was endorsed by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

In a statement, Mkonza said: "The decision to suspend advocate Mpofu (with full pay) follows an SABC board resolution taken on Tuesday. The board has resolved to conduct an investigation into very serious allegations about the conduct of the GCEO. The allegations levelled against the GCEO include an alleged refusal and/or failure to abide and implement decisions of the board". The investigation would be completed in 30 days, said Mkonza.

A well-placed SABC source said Mpofu had received instructions from a senior member of the ANC to re-employ Motsoeneng, which he passed over to Zikalala for implementation. However, Zikalala refused. This set up a clash of the SABC titans.

"Mpofu told Zikalala that the re-employment was not a suggestion but an instruction. He was short of reminding him that as Group chief executive, he is also the editor in chief. But Zikalala stood his ground," said a source.

The source said Zikalala then told Mkonza about Mpofu's "unreasonable request".

But, added the source, the spark that ignited the fire was Zikalala's confirmation on Tuesday at a group executive meeting that he had already taken Motsoeneng's case to Mkonza. This immediately prompted Mpofu to adjourn the meeting to deal with the matter.

At a smaller meeting of about five people, Mpofu allegedly accused Zikalala of leaking information to the ANC, which the latter admitted to doing but justified his actions.

"This is why Mpofu was able to say on SABC TV last night that the leaking of information by Zikalala was admitted to. It is, in fact, not leaking information to the press but leaking information to the ANC. My own sense is that Mpofu felt defeated - and used or abused his power to show Zikalala who the boss is."

The latest drama at the public broadcaster comes in the wake of a declaration of a motion of no confidence last week in Mkonza's board by ANC members of parliament, the same people who voted the board in less than six months ago.

As matters stand, the national public broadcaster neither has a chief executive nor head of news.

Visit City Press for further updates on this story through the day.

- City Press