Business Day
*Mokoetle, Molefe in Beijing as SABC faces crisis* *Chantelle Benjamin, Business Day, Johannesburg, 25 May 2010*WITH just 17 days to go to the Soccer World Cup and the SABC in crisis over the appointment of head of news Phil Molefe, it emerged yesterday that both Molefe and CEO Solly Mokoetle were out of the country.
A source in SABC management said they were attending a broadcasting conference in China.
Mokoetle had failed to appoint anyone as acting CEO, making it hard for decisions to be made in his absence.
"It's been terrible at the SABC today (Monday)," the source said. "(Chief financial officer) Robin Nicholson is off sick following a gall bladder operation, an audit is under way by the Special Investigating Unit, and Mokoetle has left without delegating authority."
China's international broadcast technologies and equipment exhibition, China Content Network Expo, is on in Beijing.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago confirmed last night that the two men were in Beijing and were not expected to return until the weekend. He could not say whether Mokoetle had appointed someone to act on his behalf. He said Mokoetle was to make a speech to the conference on behalf of SABC board chairman Ben Ngubane.
The six-month-old board is facing a crisis over Ngubane's decision to appoint Molefe permanently as head of news . This prompted the board to issue a statement saying the appointment was not legal as it had not been made by the whole board, as required by the articles of association.
This week could be central in deciding the future of the SABC as the board tries to meet its estranged chairman to discuss the way forward. It is understood that Ngubane has yet to meet the board to discuss his appointment of Molefe.
A source at the SABC said the meeting with Ngubane could either see "everyone kiss and make up" or could force the board's hand.
This is not the first decision made by Ngubane and CEO Solly Mokoetle without including the board. But Business Day understands that the previous decisions did not lead to material loss for the SABC. In one instance a R20m deal for TV products was agreed to by Ngubane and Mokoetle, despite the board agreeing to a much lower amount, but it did not go through in the end for various reasons.
Despite the strained relationship between the board and Ngubane, a board member said yesterday it had not affected the board's scheduled delivery plan or its forward planning, which was successfully going ahead.
The Save Our SABC Campaign, representing a number of trade unions, independent producer organisations and a host of nongovernmental organisations, academics and freedom of expression activists, yesterday joined the Communication Workers Union in calling for an investigation into Molefe's appointment and "if appropriate, for Ngubane and Mokoetle's resignation".
The Save Our SABC Campaign said it was important that a new head of news be found as soon as possible in order to stabilise the SABC.
The union said it was content with the SABC board reversing Molefe's appointment as head of news.
The union "would like to congratulate the committed and dedicated board members who have demonstrated their intention to build this public broadcaster into a powerful entity to be admired by all citizens," spokesman Matankana Mothapo said. With Sapa
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