Sunday, November 12, 2017

Acting SABC CEO Nomsa Philiso on death of broadcaster's legal boss: 'We're losing people in critical areas'; 'we're becoming very thin with the losses, so it's difficult'.


Acting SABC CEO Nomsa Philiso, speaking at the funeral on Saturday of the SABC's legal boss Sizwe Vilakazi, said the beleaguered South African public broadcaster is losing people in critical areas.

Sizwe Vilakazi was gunned down and killed last Saturday night when he was shot and killed through the counter at the Madisenke Liquor Depot in Masinyane Street in Tsakane on the East Rand where he was helping out at the liquor store he co-owned with his father.

At the funeral, the now fired former controversial SABC chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng appeared and also spoke. The funeral was also attended by the new minister of communications, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane.

At the funeral service on Saturday morning Nomsa Philiso said it's been a tough year for the SABC, with SABC staff dying nearly every month.

"We're losing people in critical areas, we're losing people in the core business. But the actually the operations - we're becoming very thin with the losses so it's difficult," Nomsa Philiso told SABC News.

"And this is over and above all our other challenges and still we expect our teams to rise - but I always say the one thing I always say about the SABC in the face of adversity and I'm hoping that they'll dig deep and one more time rise as they always do."

Sizwe Vilakazi was laid to rest at the Brakpan cemetery.