MMA comments on SABC crisis

This claim comes in the wake of the resignation of SABC board member Peter Harris and the dismissal of the CFO Nicholson, who had been acting in the position of GCEO since the sacking of Solly Mokoetle last year.

MMA is especially concerned with the manner in which the board, the minister and the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio committee have reportedly handled this latest crisis at the SABC.

Four years after the leadership crisis involving the then GCEO Dali Mpofu, the minister and the board, we have the public broadcaster, mandated to serve the public's interest, with no fulltime, formally appointed GCEO, CFO or COO. This is a clear sign of a governance crisis at the SABC and the board, the minister and the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio committee must all shoulder some responsibility for this latest turn of events.

Furthermore, MMA is deeply concerned by the lack of communication on these issues, with ordinary members of the public having little option but to rely on print media for information about what has been happening at the SABC.

Event timeline

On Friday 24 June 2011, the SABC board, chaired by Ngubane, resolved that Nicholson's contract should be extended by six months. Nicholson said that he then met with the board and the minister on two separate meetings, where they agreed and concluded the terms of his contract.

On 28 June, the minister convened the meeting during in which he amended the articles of association, (this was apparently an Annual General Meeting). On 30 June, Nicholson is dismissed, on the same day he serves the SABC with a letter from his lawyers advising their intent to take the matter further. On Friday 1 July 2011, a board member, Peter Harris resigns.

ANC's quoted objection indicates political influence

Over the past weekend, the ANC is quoted in national media saying that it was not happy with the SABC board's preferred candidate for the GCEO position, for though technically the CV of the preferred candidate looks impressive, the ANC is not sure of his political background.

"We [ANC] do not want to take chances with the position of the GCEO. We do not know about his activism". (Sunday Independent, 03 July 2011, p 1)

This statement, if accurate, has grave implications not only for the independence of the SABC but also the independence of the whole broadcasting sector. We cannot have a public broadcaster that is held to ransom by a political party.

The ANC has since denied any role in the GCEO appointment saga. The public is left uncertain, did the media get it wrong?

Speaking on media freedom limitations generally, William Bird, director of MMA has said, "Many African countries do not have media freedom and if South Africa takes action to restrict its media, many Southern African countries are most likely to follow."

Supporting SOS demands

MMA supports SOS Support Broadcasting Coalitions call on the SABC board, the minister and the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications to ensure that:

1. The following documents are made available to the public, namely:
   • Minutes of Board Meetings (save for confidential commercial information)
   • The Memorandum of Association of the SABC; and
   • The Articles of Association of the SABC;

2. That no confidentiality agreements are in place regarding Board matters other than in respect of SABC's proprietary confidential commercial information. In particular we call on these bodies to release Mr Harris' reasons for resigning into the public domain; and
   
3. That a permanent appointment of the CEO of the SABC happens as quickly as possible and in accordance with due process.