A new series of corruption allegations has hit South Africa’s public broadcaster write Mail & Guardian Reporters
A BATTLE between two of the three most powerful women in the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has broken into the open over an expenses claim for a cheap lunch and transport in London.
The two who have locked horns are TV boss Jill Chisholm and Melanie Chait, responsible for programming policy at SABC TV.
Several other senior SABCstaffers are also under investigation for fraud, and one departmental head has just been sacked.
There has been serious tension between Chisholm and Chait for months, and it was Chisholm who lodged a complaint which is headed for an internal disciplinary hearing into Chait’s conduct over what appears to have been triggered by a trivial matter.
Insiders at Auckland Park say Chisholm, a tough, former British TV manager, has been gunning for Chait for months, considering her incompetent.
Chait’s supporters in the industry say the alleged corruption was a minor infringement of SABC regulations while she was in London. Neither Chisholm nor Chait would comment on the row or the alleged infringement of SABC regulations.
Said a representative for Chisholm: “Jill doesn’t make any comments. Especially anything relating to staff is not discussed … good or bad.”
An insider loyal to Chait said the disciplinary procedure had been triggered by a trip overseas in August. Chait had been on leave, but decided to work for two days and claimed expenses for transport and a lunch on her return. He said this had snowballed into a list of complicated charges, and that Chait would consult her lawyers.
Chait has the support of some independent film-makers in South Africa owing to her efforts to regulate the relationship between the industry and the public broadcaster. Others maintain she has neither the experience nor the vision to hold such a key position.
Said one: “[Chait] has achieved a lot. She has just completed [a manual] which regulates the way the SABC commissions productions from in-house and independent producers.
“I believe the charges are trumped up and it was in fact a really minor and miscellaneous infringement, but clearly the people who brought the charges must look at their own house. There are much more profound problems at the SABC which need to be looked at, including in top management.”
Both executives were hired by chief executive Zwelakhe Sisulu and are part of the team which has been trying to transform the SABC into a coherent and independent-minded public broadcaster.
The disciplinary investigation against Chait comes against the background of a recent call made by Sisulu to stamp out corruption in the SABC. He is understood to have been deeply upset by escalating reports of corruption and theft in the SABC.
Sisulu appointed a task group, headed by internal audit manager Andy Sello, to investigate allegations of irregularities. General manager of communications Enoch Sithole said at the time: “This is not a witch-hunt, but the SABC cannot tolerate practices of corruption that may be costing the corporation millions of rands.”
The head of SABC’s affirmative action programme, Professor John Makhene, has just been sacked from the SABC, accused of abusing company vehicles.
Sithole this week said allegations of corruption in the SABC were exaggerated. “Not many people who made wild allegations came forward with substantial evidence of corruption. It seems that many of the complaints were motivated by grudges.”
Another SABC representative confirmed there had been a discussion with Chait “with regard to allegations of irregularities. She is aware of the allegations. But there has not been a hearing, so it is still sub judice. Information can be released later.”
She said a number of investigations had been launched against SABC personnel after Sisulu’s call to stamp out corruption. “But I cannot say whether it is one, or two, or five.”