What is going on at the SABC?

The Group CEO of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Mr Dali Mpofu, suspended the head of news Mr Snuki Zikalala yesterday. Mpofu accused Zikalala of serious misconduct. In a SABC radio statement, Mpofu said that Zikalala was suspended for leaking confidential company documents. The suspension was with immediate effect. Zikalala on the other hand has denied these allegations saying there is more to this issue than what the pubic is led to believe.

The relationship between the two has been sour for a long time and the suspension is no. There are rumours that some of their problems were intensified by the ANC succession battle. It is said that some people within the party feel that the SABC was biased in its coverage of this issue. There are the feelings that the two executives had also taken sides within the ANC chaos.

In a dramatic turn of events, the SABC Board met yesterday evening and decided to suspend Mpofu with immediate effect. An acting CEO is still to be announced later today. In a telephonic interview with SABC 2 this morning, Professor Guy Berger of Rhodes University said that what is happening to the SABC is a shame. He noted that it is not likely for the broadcaster to collapse as everything seems to be running well indicating that systems are in place. On the management replacement he stated that there are processes that the Board is likely to follow before they make a decision. He said that there has been too much controversy surrounding Zikalala in the past but he has also done a lot for the broadcaster and he is likely to fight for his position.

The SABC Board was to meet this morning to look at temporary measures to address the management vacuum.

This chaos happens at a time when South Africa is hosting the International Public Television Screening Conference (INPUT). The conference is on until May 10. The theme of the conference ‘Back to the beginning’ is informed by:

• Africa the Cradle of Humankind
• The return of Input to Africa after its debut on the Continent in 2001 in Cape Town
• Returning to the compelling simplicity of good stories well told