SABC board in another attempt to oust Mpofu

The Sunday Independent yesterday, Sunday, 8 June 2008, quoted an unnamed board member as saying that Zikalala's case will be heard in the CCMA on 18 June and some board members were plotting to have Mpofu ‘out of the way', paving the way for Zikalala's return - possibly acting in place of Mpofu.

Zikalala's suitability for the post of group CEO has been promoted and supported by Mkonza and deputy chairperson Christine Qunta, The Sunday Independent reported. Mpofu could not be reached last night for comment.

Showdown not over

Many observers thought that the showdown was over after Mkonza and her acolytes last week lost another round in the Johannesburg High Court to have Mpofu bite the dust for the second time after Judge Moroa J Tsoka dismissed their ‘urgent' application for leave to appeal with costs.

The board's legal costs now amount to up to R3 million, according to The Sunday Independent, and if the board goes ahead with its ‘extra-time' plan to have Judge Tsoka's decision set aside but loses again, it will be a financial disaster for the SABC, analysts warned.

“This is the money that the SABC can ill-afford to spend and it shows that the board has lost its ability to fulfill its fiduciary duties to protect the public broadcaster from adverse legal costs,” Jane Duncan, Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) executive director, told Bizcommunity.com last night.

“Instead of trying to solve some isolated aspects of this case in court, I think that the only cheaper way out of this is to accept the commission of inquiry as suggested by Bantu Holomisa and supported by a number of independent organisations and individuals into the conduct of the board,” Duncan added.

Mpofu, who cut a lonely and melancholic figure in court while his legal team was busy presenting his case to the judge, called the board's application frivolous and a waste of time and resources. However, he smiled all the way from Court 8F to Prichard Street after the verdict was passed in his favour.

Even more dramatic

But, what followed was even more dramatic when seven executives and employees signed two petitions, each calling for the embattled board to resign immediately. The board on Wednesday slammed the seven ‘rebel' executives, calling their move ‘'mischievous', divisive', and intended to ‘undermine' the board's integrity and authority and ‘damaging the public broadcaster's credibility'.

The board said that it will engage with the signatories of the petition through available internal processes, but it remains unclear what the board meant by this statement.

SABC head of communications Kaizer Kganyago - one of the ‘rebel' executives - last night declined to comment, except to say: “I do not know what the board's next intentions are, so I cannot comment on their behalf as I have not been mandated to say anything about this matter.”

Asked whether he was afraid now that the board is on the counter-attack position, he replied: “Afraid? Afraid of what? I just do not want to say anything about this matter.”

Declined to comment

Charlotte Mampane, the self-appointed spokesperson of the ‘seven rebels', twice declined to comment about her team's next move after the board swung its ‘missiles' in their direction. First, last week she said: “Give me your number. I will call you back.” She did not call, and last night she said: “I cannot say anything now because I am with my family and we are discussing some very urgent matters.”

A man, only known as Lorato, who last week outside the court claimed to be speaking on behalf of the SABC board, has not been heard since last Monday and was also not available to comment by the time of going to press.

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