ANCYL welcomes SABC resignations
2013-03-12 14:42
Johannesburg - The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) on Tuesday
welcomed the resignations of SABC board chairperson Ben Ngubane and his deputy
Thami ka Plaatjie.
"It is critical that the SABC has order and
stability in its governance structures for it to properly fulfil its role as a
public broadcaster," league spokesperson Khusela Sangoni-Khawe said.
"We note with concern that the only permanently
filled position at the most senior levels in the SABC is the group CEO, as the
chief financial officer (CFO) is also currently on suspension and facing an
investigation."
President Jacob Zuma received a joint letter of
resignation from Ngubane and Ka Plaatjie on Monday.
The president was still considering on Tuesday whether to
accept the resignations.
"The matter is under consideration," Zuma's
spokesperson Mac Maharaj said.
Sangoni-Khawe said in a statement the SABC should
fast-track the appointment of a permanent chief operations officer (COO) and
the CFO's disciplinary process.
Communications Minister Dina Pule and the board should
explain why they had been dragging their feet on filling the COO's post, vacant
for more than five years.
The findings of two investigations into the SABC - one by
the Auditor General and the other by the Special Investigating Unit - should be
released as a matter of urgency.
"Board members found to have acted improperly should
be relieved of their duties."
She said the league was concerned that Ngubane and Ka
Plaatjie's resignations would result in the entire board being dissolved.
"Such an occurrence would create further
instability. The unaffected board members must be retained to ensure
continuity."
Renewed tension
The two resigned after weeks of renewed tension at the
public broadcaster after Ngubane and the board fell out over the future of
acting COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
On 26 February the broadcaster announced Motsoeneng had
been "released from his duties".
It said that Mike Siluma, a veteran journalist and head
of radio news and current affairs, had been appointed to the acting position.
Shortly after that, Ngubane was quoted in a newspaper
report as saying Motsoeneng had been reinstated.
He said Ka Plaatjie had made this decision.
This prompted the board to issue a media statement
according to which "the report... is regrettable as neither the chairperson
nor the deputy chairperson nor both have the power or authority to unilaterally
change a board resolution".
The board said it would seek clarity from Ngubane and Ka
Plaatjie regarding the newspaper report.
Since then, Pule has asked Parliament to
"urgently" review the board's fitness.
- SAPA
