The shocking and dismissive way in which the South African public broadcaster abruptly ended the long time employment of its chief financial officer (CFO) Robin Nicholson who's been standing in for the past multiple months as acting group CEO of the beleaguered SABC since September 2010, whilst the corporation made further inexplicable top executive moves, is proof that the pathologically ill SABC is callously killing itself; mercilessly, unendingly, feeding on its tail like the mythical Ouroboros - it's sole purpose to seemingly destroy itself by compulsively, eventually, constantly, turning on its own.
Reflect and you'll see the pathological trend the South African Broadcasting Corporation seems unwilling or unable to break: A never-ending feeding lust where anything, and more importantly anyone despite their loyalty, dedication, service or alliances will be set upon, chewed up and devoured. Like the mythical beast of lore, the decline of the once-great public broadcaster isn't so much the doing of outside influences (although that does play a role) as it seems to be the broadcasting beast's own inherent and compulsive need for self-destruction within executive ranks.
Appointed at the SABC in 2001 and having lasted a decade at Auckland Park, Robin Nicholson survived numerous palace revolutions, scandals that engulfed the broadcaster, a near financial collapse, top executive in-fighting and intrigue, political wranglings, backdoor power squabbles and struggles, and stacked corporate crises. As the man ultimately in charge and responsible for the finances of the deteriorating public broadcaster, he was loyal to the powers that be. And then suddenly on Thursday, whilst on leave, Robin Nicholson too, was out - the SABC (who couldn't bother to spell his name right) saying that his contract wasn't renewed and ending a decade of service with a mere ''we wish him well with his future endeavours''. Ouroboros has fed again.
No MBA, no degree, no industrial psychology handbook, no high EQ score, political credentials and connections, or alliances both overt and more secretly calculated, seems enough that the grindstone of inner SABC turmoil won't eventually crush the broadcaster's French court champagne crowd - both those drinking it as well as those loyally serving it to them on a silver tray. It's not the names, as much as the length of the limelight names who've been set upon by the SABC that highlights the broadcaster's self-destructive Ouroboros complex.
Snuki Zikalala, Peter Matlare, Dali Mpofu, Solly Mokoetle, Khanyi Mkhonza, Peter Vundla, Fadila Lagadien, Christine Qunta, Mvuzo Mbebe, Ray Nkwe, Mathe Mosito-Okaba, Peter Harris, Felleng Sekha, Barbara Masekela, David Niddrie and Makgatho Mello are just a very few names that immediately jump to mind of people who started in service of the SABC - and were then suddenly, for whatever reasons, just gone. Whatever the circumstances that leads to their departures, the broadcaster seems unable and unwilling to do it better - chasing its tail in a repetitive cycle of using people and then using them up.
What the SABC's Ouroboros malignancy conveys is a subliminal warning: Yes, here be a dragon. But a dragon that relentlessly turns and feeds on itself. Work here, but at your own peril. No degree of once-trust or current cred, former (political) pedigree or current corporate clout will or can save you once the Auckland Park serpent turns its head. Anything - and everyone - is expendable, and this monster's next meal.
ALSO READ: Full and complete coverage of the latest SABC insider executive turmoil seeing Robin Nicholson's contract not extended (according to the SABC), several new acting executive appointments and an SABC board member resigning all within 48 hours.
