Relief as ‘millionaire' Mpofu exits SABC

In terms of the ‘amicable' deal, Mpofu will get more than R14 million, including R6.7 million for the remainder of his contract, R900 000 for leave days owing, R4.4 million for an 18-month restraint of trade agreement and a further R2.1 million to be paid to his lawyers.

Prof Tawana Kupe, Wits University's Dean of Faculty of Humanities, told Bizcommunity.com last night, Sunday, 16 August 2009: “From the point of view of unlocking the management logjam at the SABC it seems the right thing to do. The SABC can now move on and so can Mpofu.

“I guess now we will see a rapid process to restore top level managerial capacity, the development of a long-term sustainability plan, preparations for the 2010 World Cup, and in particular digital migration.

“It will also attempt to rationalise operations which will include closing down or downsizing SABC International.”

Size of payout criticised

Lesley Cowling, senior lecturer at Wits University's School of Journalism, told Bizcommunity: “At the very least, it means an end to the ongoing legal battles and an opportunity to move on with the appointment of a CEO.

“Hopefully, the CEO will be a person who has business and media experience and skills, is politically independent, and who can balance the various demands on the SABC to serve SA's many diverse communities.”

However, Cowling decried the huge size of the payout, especially in these difficult financial times, when the public broadcaster is almost bankrupt.

She said: “I have to agree that it seems unfair that Dali Mpofu gets an enormous payout when independent producers are still waiting to be paid out for work done, and some companies have had to shut up shop because of the non-payment.”

Many believe that Mpofu, who made some questionable decisions during his four-year- tenure at SABC - including the expensive (R20 million) but disastrous launch of SABC News International, must be investigated to assess his part in the corporation's current financial meltdown.

Must be held accountable

Prof Kupe said: “Would the investigation not have been better and would not have supported Mpofu's protestations that he, contrary to allegations, did not mismanage the corporation? The decision also raises questions about what the overall plan to restore managerial and financial stability to the SABC is. Should paying out Mpofu be the priority?”

William Bird, head of Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), said: “Whether you think Dali was good or not it is clear that given the current crises it would not have been good to have allowed him back at the SABC as this would have raised too many questions.

“What is crucial, however, is to ensure that while he is now out of the SABC, if there are any issues of mismanagement or other failures for which he was responsible for, then he must be held accountable.”

Kate Skinner, spokesperson of ‘Save our SABC' Coalition, said: “Mpofu's legacy is a dismal one. The SABC has never been in such a bad state.

“Under his watch programming quality has deteriorated and administration costs escalated. Dali never dealt with the blacklisting issues. For these reasons I think it is good that he has left the corporation. We need fresh insight. We need new blood.”

Mpofu denies any wrongdoing and points fingers at the previous board led by Khanyi Mkhonza and Christine Qunta. His R4.4 million's restraint of trade will be paid out by the Department of Communications (DoC).

Skinner pointed out that the "restraint of trade" clause is very unfair and paying him that amount over and above what he is owed seems unnecessary.