Friday, July 1, 2011

BREAKING. It's Friday, so of course it means SCANDAL is again engulfing the SABC: Robin Nicholson says he isn't leaving ... and has a contract!

Robin Nicholson plans to be at work on Monday, although the SABC just told me that yesterday was the last day for Robin Nicholson at the SABC, as the public broadcaster's chief financial officer and acting group CEO.

Cue ... labour dispute! The SABC just showed Robin Nicholson the door, although the SABC initially said that Robin Nicholson's contract has been extended further. Then suddenly the SABC announced this morning that Robin Nicholson is out (''we wish him well with his future endeavours'') and Phil Molefe is in as the new acting group CEO.

Of course there is also the SABC board member Peter Harris who resigned yesterday as SABC board member, which is also sending shockwaves. Is Peter Harris' resignation as SABC board member connected to this new madness and scandal engulfing the public broadcaster?

ALSO READ: Phil Molefe suddenly appointed as the new acting group CEO at the SABC; immediately replacing Robin Nicholson.
ALSO READ: Mike Siluma suddenly appointed as the new acting head of news and current affairs at the SABC.
ALSO READ: Peter Harris unexpectedly resigns as SABC board member.
ALSO READ: SABC's Robin Nicholson isn't going anywhere; contract extended long ago.

As far as I have it, Robin Nicholson has a running, extended contract as acting group CEO with the SABC, and the suddenly-issued press release this morning by the broadcaster, seemed incredibly strange. The South African TV industry is already buzzing with the new scandal and seemingly new executive in-fighting within the SABC.

Why would the SABC have told the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications that there's no need to worry that Robin Nicholson is going anywhere, then suddenly get the power to appoint management executives, then say Phil Molefe is immediately replacing Robin Nicholson? Very weird and very strange.