New SABC board takes up office

The interim board, whose term in office ended on Saturday 9 January 2010, officially handed over the SABC's affairs to the ‘permanent' board at a ceremony held in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

The event was attended by Minister of Communications Siphiwe Nyanda and his deputy Dina Pule.

Nyanda told reporters: “I came here because I wanted to ensure a smooth handover and thank the interim board members for the sterling work that they have done.

“Frankly, they have performed beyond my expectations.

“The public broadcaster is a national asset and I am responsible, politically, to ensure that its integrity is restored.”

“The new board is appointed by Parliament for five years through a process of which I was not part of, but I was happy with the people appointed. I know there was controversy but this is just politics.

“I want to lend them support and urge them to behave themselves bearing in mind that they have fiduciary responsibilities to restore the organisation's prestige and integrity.”

A first?

Interim board chairperson Irene Charnley said this is the first time ever that a handover has been formally done by two boards.

“The aim is to ensure transparency and accountability and also ensure that the new board is in a position to immediately continue with the process of turning around the SABC and restoring its integrity, building a viable public broadcaster and focusing on meeting audience's needs and expectations.”

The SABC has now entered into a five-year loan agreement with Nedbank to address liquidity concerns and ‘significantly improve' the stabilisation environment, Charnley revealed, adding that the agreement is based on the R1.473bn government guarantee secured by the interim board.

Asked about the appointment of the head of news, a position currently occupied on a temporary basis by Phil Molefe after Snuki Zikalala's contract was not renewed, Charnley replied: “This issue will be handled by the new board.”

Restoring morale is a priority

While the interim board managed to pay debts owed to independent producers, some of them however are still waiting for their money.

CEO Solly Mokoetle said: “I am at ease now after the baptism of fire that I had a few weeks ago.

“I thank all the members for the confidence they expressed in me to restore the SABC's integrity, professionalism and financial sustainability and ensure that the services are of high quality.

“But we can only succeed if we restore the morale of our employees, and our relationship with advertisers and independent producers, and address the core challenges that incapacitated the SABC.”

The new board will be led by former cabinet minister Dr Ben Ngubane and his deputy Felleng Sekha.

Investigation? What investigation?

Dr Ngubane said: “Let's put all our problems behind and work together and restore the confidence of the people. I want to tell you that there is no division in the new board over the new CEO, and there are no faceless people amongst us.

“Despite the problems, we want to work with everyone, including the independent producers, who are our critical partners, and with international broadcasters and share content with them.”

Asked whether the new SABC board is in the process of investigating Mokoetle over the 2005 Gobodo report, Dr Ngubane said: “There is no investigation going on as we speak because there is nothing to investigate.”

Final warnings and disciplinary processes

Meanwhile, the SABC announced that two of the four executives who were suspended as a result of the findings of the Auditor General have undergone the disciplinary process and given ‘appropriate sanction'.

Head of audiences services Anton Heunis has been given a final warning of six months while Robin Nicholson (CFO) has been given a final written warning of nine months, Charnley said.

As for content executive Mvuzo Mbebe, his case will be heard next month, and head of procurement Mabela Satekge's case has been postponed due to ill-health. Disciplinary processes relating to 10 junior staff are also in progress.

Charnley also said that two more cases involving former employees have been handed over to the police for further investigation.