GOODBYE TO BUMBLING BEN? Is dr Ben Ngubane, chairperson of the SABC board, on his way out? Is Ben's SABC days numbered?

Multiple source (both high-level execs inside the SABC, as well as extremely well-connected outsiders) are telling me that a process to axe the stubborn, arrogant and quite frankly clueless SABC chairperson dr Ben Ngubane might already be set in motion during this coming week, and start as early as Wednesday. (Although to be honest, some of it may just be wishful thinking.)

Over the course of this weekend I spoke to multiple sources, independent of each other, with a lot of chatter centered around the recalcitrant dr Ben Ngubane who might apparently be pressured as soon as this week to resign as SABC chairperson. Various sources I spoke to and who had no qualms discussing the severly ineffective and ham-stringed chairperson, are now telling me that it became very clear this past week that dr Ben Ngubane's ''out of touch'' and ''a major stumbling block'' in the continuing mismanagement paralysis gripping the South African public broadcaster.

''He's [dr Ben Ngubane] rightly or wrongly has become this utter lightning rod for the rot, arrogance, impotence, non-inclusive leadership and perception of ineffective management that continues to plague the SABC's top structure,'' a well-connected TV industry insider told me who's usually hesitant to criticise the SABC. ''Behind the scenes there is growing pressure within government to get rid of him but rather through him resigning and keeping his dignity,'' a government source whispered to me. (What dignity dr Ben Ngubane has left after the ongoing massive mess he's presiding over at the SABC is an open question, but anyway.)

''He once again brought public scorn and shame on the SABC,'' an SABC board member - who used to be reluctant to talk for a while but is now back to blabbing - told me, referring to this past week's appearance of dr Ben Ngubane before parliament's portfolio commitee on communications where, in an embarrasing moment, the SABC's acting group CEO Robin Nicholson spat back and revealed that dr Ben Ngubane failed to sign off on his appointment as acting group CEO. ''His ineptitude and incompetence continues but he [Ngubane] has outside support,'' said the SABC board member who didn't want to spell it out but is likely referring to dr Ben Ngubane's strong alleged ties to president Jacob Zuma.

''He [dr Ben Ngubane] doesn't want to go but there is definitely pressure building, and it coalesced further this week after that [the parliamentary appearance]. . . that he is a becoming more of a problem,'' another high-level government insider told me. ''There will be pressure next week [this coming week] for him to be removed.''

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