It's monkey business as usual at the SABC

All the good work put in by the interim board during 2009 is now being overshadowed by yet another CEO-saga involving the communications minister, the old board, the new board and newly appointed CEO, Solly Mokoetle.

Infantile

It's actually really pathetic when you think about it. Whether this latest fracas arose out of jealousy, a turf war or genuine concern is actually irrelevant because once again piqued members of the new board at the SABC have resorted to whingeing via the media instead of voicing concern through the board structure. Which is infantile to say the least.

It seems that some members of the new board were jealous/concerned/misinformed/gung-ho or just plain nose-out-joint that the old board should have appointed Mokoetle as CEO and not left that decision to the new incumbents.

The excuse they used was that Mokoetle was implicated inn the 2005 Gobodo report on corruption. Something for which he was never found guilty.

Food for ANCYL

Now the proverbial has really hit the fan because the ANC Youth League has spotted another opportunity for some serious soapboxing and has also spoken out against the appointment.

So, it's back to business unusual. Back to a situation where the SABC CEO has to spent 10 hours a day dealing with politicians, boardroom squabbles, backstabbing left, right and centre and then with a bit of luck, being able to put in 10 minutes or so actually running the SABC.

What really amazes and confounds me no end is the fact that the process of looking for a new CEO was pretty much open, so why in heaven's name didn't anyone who had a problem with Mokoetle speak up at the time?

It's not about happy families

I am not suggesting for a minute that all board members should agree with each other nor that all board members and other stakeholders should get together and start a CEO fan club. Dissent, disagreement and constructive criticism is key to the smooth running of any organisation but when that dissent, disagreement and criticism becomes underhand and anonymous it is extremely destructive.

The SABC board chairman needs to take a firm hand and fast if this newly elected body is going to have any positive effect whatsoever.

I agree with communication minister, Nyanda's spokesman, Tiyani Rikhotso, who told The Times that the minister was not concerned about "faceless" board members who made allegations without following "proper channels.

"The SABC CEO is not the property of the board. He is there to run the day-to-day operations of the organisation with the board playing an oversight role".