The presidency orchestrated South African Broadcasting Corporation CEO Dali Mpofu’s suspension, his lawyers claimed on Thursday.
Mpofu is challenging his suspension in the Johannesburg High Court.
In papers submitted to the court Mpofu said SABC board chairperson Kanyi Mkhonza was acting on an instruction to ”get rid of the CEO” issued by the Minister in the Presidency, Essop Pahad.
”I have reason to believe that the chairperson and the deputy chairperson, in particular, were and are still acting in pursuance of that instruction.
”Mr Pahad bears personal animosity towards me because I resisted his unwarranted attempts to interfere in the PSL [Premier Soccer League] and Supersport matches towards the end of 2007,” Mpofu said in court papers.
His lawyers said his suspension was unlawful because the meeting where it was decided did not follow the correct procedures as stipulated in the Companies Act.
Judge Moroa Tsoka adjourned the hearing until 12.30pm to give Mpofu’s lawyers a chance to draft a replying affidavit to the SABC.
Mkhonza suspended Mpofu last Wednesday, the day after he suspended Snuki Zikalala, SABC group executive of news and current affairs.
Mkhonza said Mpofu’s suspension was pending an investigation into allegations about his conduct, including claims that he refused or failed to implement board decisions.
Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri on May 10 said no link seemed to exist between the suspensions Mpofu and Zikalala.
Matsepe-Casaburri said the information she received from a briefing indicated that the board’s reasons for suspension of Mpofu had to do with an issue of governance and an attempt to avoid a developing ”crisis”.
”Their concerns centre around issues of the budget, sports rights, staff problems at executive level and the impact that all these have on the business of the SABC,” said the minister.
Matsepe-Casaburri said interim measures by the board ensured management of the SABC continued under ”capable hands”.
”The public [should] … remain calm, avoid speculation and incorrect reporting that further damages the image of a national entity that belongs to all of us as a nation.” – Sapa