SABC CEO has not resigned amid uncertainty over board’s future

The SABC has dismissed reports that its CEO Madoda Mxakwe has resigned.

However, the broadcaster did not deny speculation that at least three board members had stepped down after clashing with communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams over planned retrenchments at the cash-strapped corporation.

“The SABC has noted media reports speculating that three members of the SABC board have resigned. The relevant and correct authority to comment on SABC board resignations is the presidency,” said SABC spokesperson Neo Momodu.

“The SABC can, however, confirm that its group CEO Madoda Mxakwe has not resigned and therefore speculations on his resignation are false.”

It is understood that board members Khanyisile Kweyama and John Mattison have tendered their resignations to President Cyril Ramaphosa, and more members are set to follow suit.

Board members are unhappy with the government’s interference and believe that their best efforts to turn around the broadcaster will fall flat under the current circumstances.

Kweyama and Mattison could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Should more nonexecutive directors of the SABC resign, it will leave the board without a quorum, which could lead to its dissolution.

The board already has four vacancies following the resignation of Rachel Kalidass, who quit earlier in 2018 after clashing with her colleagues over the appointment of the CEO.

Febe Potgieter-Gqubule resigned to take up a post with the ANC. Victor Rambau tendered his resignation earlier in 2018, and Nomvuyiso Batyi, who was nominated by the portfolio committee on communications, withdrew her application.

The board is meant to have 12 members. It needs nine members, including the three executives – CEO, CFO and COO – for a quorum.

Previous boards have collapsed due to political interference. In a strongly worded letter to the board at the weekend, Ndabeni-Abrahams accused it of not acting in the best interest of the public broadcaster as they pressed on with retrenchments.

Like her predecessor Nomvula Mokonyane, Ndabeni-Abrahams, who was recently appointed to the portfolio, has made it clear she is opposed to the retrenchments and has suggested that Ramaphosa should intervene.

The SABC board, on the other hand, maintains it has little choice but to let go of more than 2,000 workers in order to remain sustainable.

The board has been on an aggressive drive to turn around the broadcaster after years of decline under former COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

Executives told MPs recently that part of the reason the wage bill had escalated was the irregular salary increases awarded to numerous employees by the previous management.

The planned job cuts were likely to affect close to 1,000 permanent employees and 1,200 freelancers.