SABC red-faced at joke status
14/05/2008 23:04  - (SA)  

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Sanri van Wyk, Beeld

Johannesburg - SABC employees were embarrassed to show their business cards in public said the acting replacement for former head Dali Mpofu.

Gabriel Mampone, acting as head of the SABC, said this to employees on Wednesday morning, adding that this showed something was seriously wrong.

Mampone and the chairperson of the SABC board, Kanyi Mkonza, were addressing employees at the broadcaster's offices in Auckland Park in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Beeld attended the meeting.

Mampone said: "There is no doubt the SABC trademark has incurred terrible damage. People are embarrassed to show their business cards in public. This shows that something is seriously wrong.

"People are making jokes about the public broadcaster over their tea or their beer.

"Change is necessary. We can't afford to be the nation's joke all the time. We'll have to put strategies in place to change our position in the market."

Mampone said he knew employees would get through this.

"South Africans are strong. We'll come out of this stronger to make a difference."