Worried MPs look at providing witness protection in SABC probe

FORMER public protector Thuli Madonsela will be one of the witnesses called to testify in the inquiry into the crisis at the SABC.

And amid reports of intimidation and death threats against SABC journalists, those called to testify may be able to request witness protection or in-camera hearings.

Parliament’s ad hoc committee which has been tasked with holding the inquiry is also considering working over weekends, and possibly Christmas Day, to get to the bottom of the broadcaster’s problems.

The committee met for the first time yesterday to finalise the programme and witness list.

The meeting took place as news emerged that two more SABC board members – Vuyo Mhlakaza and Aaron Tshidzumba – had resigned‚ leaving the board with just one member, chairman Mbulaheni Maguvhe.

A total of 30 witnesses will be called to give evidence‚ including journalists, former board members and Communications Minister Faith Muthambi.

The committee will also be requesting various documents from the SABC, including minutes of meetings and reports.

The inquiry is set to begin on November 29 and the committee hopes to conclude its work by December 9 when parliament concludes its business for the year.

But committee chairman Vincent Smith said if members needed to work over Christmas, “so be it”.

The DA and the EFF proposed that Madonsela be called to give evidence as she had authored a report‚ When Governance and Ethics Fail‚ which details some of the issues at the broadcaster.

Madonsela found, among other things, that controversial former SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng had fabricated his

matric qualification‚ purged staff who disagreed with him and had increased his salary irregularly‚ from R1.5-million to R2.4-million in one year.

The crisis at the public broadcaster is largely about Motsoeneng.

He lost his job in September when the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed his application for leave to contest a ruling by the Cape Town High Court setting aside his permanent appointment as chief operating officer.

The SABC then announced it had reappointed Motsoeneng to his previous post as group executive for corporate affairs, prompting the resignation in parliament last month of two board members – Krish Naidoo and Vusi Mavuso.

Yesterday, the committee agreed that Madonsela should be invited to give evidence. Representatives of current public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane will also be invited.

The committee also agreed that Mhlakaza and Tshidzumba should be called to testify.

It also adopted an EFF proposal that senior SABC journalist Sophie Mokoena should be added to the witness list.

Witnesses could be given the option to request witness protection and to provide in-camera evidence, it was decided.

Reports of various incidents of intimidation and death threats aimed at SABC journalists emerged at the weekend.

The targeted journalists brought a Constitutional Court case against the SABC after being suspended for challenging editorial policy. They were reinstated a few weeks later.

The ad hoc committee said it wanted to make sure that everyone was free to give evidence.

The committee has 11 members – six from the ANC‚ two from the DA‚ one from the EFF and two from other parties.

The committee has to report back by no later than February 28. – Additional reporting by Babalo Ndenze