Crisis, what crisis, ask SABC chiefs amid revolt
SABC board chairman Mbulaheni Maguvhe and chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng on Tuesday insisted there was no “revolt” or “crisis” at the broadcaster, even after the acting CEO quit and staff members remained suspended, writes Genevieve Quintal.
The two also tried to quash perceptions that the SABC was in turmoil.
Earlier this week, its acting CEO Jimi Matthews resigned. He was replaced on Tuesday by chief financial officer James Aguma.
Before addressing the media on the new appointment at the SABC, Maguvhe and Motsoeneng addressed a staff meeting.
“People of the SABC are very happy … people are very excited,” a smiling Motsoeneng said.
“What I hear ... is all of them say ‘Mr Motsoeneng the line is right’,” he said, referring to some of the editorial policy decisions that have been controversial. “There is no revolt within the organisation…. I don’t even know how can you say there is a revolt when SABC employees are excited.”
He said there was a new era at the public broadcaster.
Three senior employees were suspended last week for disagreeing with a decision not to cover a protest against the SABC, and earlier this week another two executive producers and a senior journalist wrote to Motsoeneng outlining concerns about editorial edicts.
Maguvhe said disciplinary issues were an internal matter, but Motsoeneng stated that if employees could not follow SABC policy they should leave.
SABC board chairman Mbulaheni Maguvhe yesterday said he still saw no crisis at the public broadcaster, despite the resignation of acting CEO Jimi Matthews and the suspension of senior journalists.
Matthews, the tenth CEO to run the SABC in seven years, resigned on Monday citing “a corrosive atmosphere” at the broadcaster.
His resignation and the suspensions were preceded by a ban on coverage of violent protests.
Yesterday, three senior staffers wrote a hard-hitting letter to SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng chronicling concerns over decisions and the suspensions. They said morale was low and the editorial decisions were affecting the credibility of the organisation.
The state broadcaster has hopped from one crisis to the another as it has faced financial woes, numerous court battles — one of which saw Motsoeneng’s position declared unlawful — intervention by the Department of Communications and an investigation by the public protector.
Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi on Tuesday expressed concern over Matthews’ sudden resignation, saying it was “unfortunate”. However, she blamed Matthews for turning his resignation into a “social media issue” without raising his concerns internally.
“The timing of his resignation is suspect,” the department’s spokesman Mish Molakeng said.
African National Congress spokesman Zizi Kodwa said Matthews’ resignation was timed to create an impression of instability at the public broadcaster.
Molakeng said the ministry had full confidence in the SABC board and that it would be able to “calm the situation” and steer the broadcaster in the right direction.
The SABC board said it could not account for Matthews’ unhapiness. Board member Nomvuyo Mhlakaza said Matthews had not raised any of the issues he had mentioned in his resignation letter with the board.
“We cannot answer for Jimi as to what is wrong. He went to the media. We would have expected Jimi to take us into his confidence,” Maguvhe said at a press conference.
“We wish to reassure the public and our staff that the SABC is not in a crisis. We have said on numerous accounts that the time for austerity has come and gone thanks to the hard work that Mr Motsoeneng is displaying in getting us the necessary funds.”
He said these funds would help the public broadcaster to fulfil its public mandate.
Maguvhe announced the appointment of SABC chief financial officer James Aguma as the new acting group CEO and Audrey Raphela as acting finance chief. He becomes the eleventh occupant of the CEO’s office in seven years.
Maguvhe said he respected Matthews’ decision to resign and wished him well, but said Aguma would help steer the SABC in the right direction.
Motsoeneng and Maguvhe also addressed a staff meeting on Tuesday which they called a “rediffusion” meeting.
Maguvhe said disciplinary issues were an internal matter and the executive had the power to discipline any staff member.
Speaking at the same press conference, Motsoeneng warned SABC employees that they had to adhere to the broadcaster’s policies and instructions or face action.
“There are two ways (to deal with this) — you move before we come to you. We (are) not apologetic about it, we (are) going to deal with people decisively on discipline matters in the organisation.”