SABC board member tells of 'campaign'

During a heated meeting earlier this week, members of Parliament's communications portfolio committee heard Ngubane's style of leadership was "abrasive", "patriarchal" and that he regarded himself as "the board".

Last week, the SABC confirmed that it had suspended its chief financial officer Gugu Duda over allegations of irregularity related to procurement. Also Ngubane told MPs last week that the SABC board had "degenerated into serious dysfunctionality" and called on Parliament to remove Cawekazi Mahlati from the board.

Insiders said the majority of the board members passed a vote of no confidence in Mahlati last month.

Allegations were that Mahlati is an extremely disruptive influence in SABC board meetings. Other allegations were that Mahlati was behind a campaign to remove the acting chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, because he was blocking a tendering process she appeared to have an interest in.

Outside business interests

It emerged during an SABC presentation on the Special Investigating Unit's investigations in Parliament earlier yesterday that Mahlati was the only board member who, after more than a year, had yet to declare her outside business interests.

However, addressing MPs yesterday, Mahlati said the "campaign" to remove her from the board was part of strategy by Ngubane to hide corruption and malpractice at the broadcaster.

"There is a concerted cover-up of governance commencing with the appointment of the current chief operations officer (Hlaudi Motsoeneng) and my attempts to air this issue."

It is understood that some SABC senior staffers earlier this year lodged a complaint with the public protector against Motsoeneng. Some of the complaints included allegations that he had lied about having a matric certificate.

Ready with evidence

"The chairman (Ngubane) has on a number of occasions championed unskilled people to lead the SABC. I urge MPs to conduct an investigation ... I am ready with evidence (of corruption and malpractice)," Mahlati said.

Earlier, Ngubane had told MPs that Mahlati had continuously "obstructed" the functions of the board and had on many occasions acted in a rude manner towards other board members.

Portfolio committee chairman Sikhumbuzo Kholwane said MPs would meet today to decide what action to take on the matter.

Source: Business Day via I-Net Bridge.