The group executive of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is ”disturbed” by inaccuracies in media reports indicating that the broadcaster’s board plans to axe its chief executive, Dali Mpofu.
”The group executive is disturbed by factual inaccuracies both in the media articles as well as the memorandum, which is the source thereof.
”To this end, the group executive has resolved to prepare a detailed response to correct these glaring inaccuracies,” said SABC spokesperson Phumelele Ntombela-Nzimande in a statement on Tuesday.
The response will be issued once the group executive has met the SABC board. It is hoped the meeting will take place before the end of the week. These ”inaccuracies” will then be highlighted.
The broadcaster also raised concerns about the documents being leaked to the media. It expressed its confidence in Mpofu.
The Sunday Times reported that the SABC board planned to axe Mpofu for dereliction of duty.
It said he had clashed with board chairperson Khanyisile Mkonza over his management of the public broadcaster.
Mkonza had apparently told board members the SABC was in danger of an operational, financial and governance crisis and that if Mpofu did not go, she would.
The paper had obtained a copy of a memorandum that Mkonza circulated to board members two weeks ago, outlining how Mpofu continued to defy the board, and said that the SABC was running ”a risk of reaching a crisis, operationally, financially and in terms of governance”.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) on Tuesday expressed its deep concern at media reports signalling a ”looming battle” between the SABC board and management.
”We are deeply concerned that this will divert the tasks of the SABC of focusing on building itself as a credible public broadcaster,” SACP spokesperson Malesela Maleka said in a statement. — Sapa