Friday, July 1, 2011

SOS ON LATEST SABC SCANDAL: 'We are deeply disturbed by this turn of events. There are deep structural problems at the SABC.'

The Support Public Broadcasting Coalition (SOS) representing a massive bulk of the South African television industry including trade unions, media institutes and all major film and TV production organisations says it's ''deeply concerned about the latest flare ups in the ongoing crisis at the public broadcaster''.

The stern SOS statement the coalition just released, follows a day of shocking developments at the beleaguered SABC once again being rocked today by extremely controversial upper management executive shuffles that betray behind-the-scenes problems. Shocking news in multiple waves emanated today from the SABC that includes:
- the shocking and sudden, inexplicable resignation of SABC board member Peter Harris,
- the shocking appointment of Phil Molefe as the new acting group CEO at the SABC,
- the shocking apparent ouster of Robin Nicholson who was the acting group CEO at the SABC, who claims he still has an ongoing contract and that he will be back at the SABC on Monday,
- the shocking appointment of Mike Siluma as the new acting head of news at the SABC.

''We are very disturbed that this is happening again,'' says the SOS in regards to the shocking resignation of Peter Harris who became a SABC board member in September 2009.

''We need the SABC board to explain why we have yet another acting group CEO and the reasons why Phil Molefe has been appointed,'' says the SOS.

''It appears that the SABC has opened itself up to a major labour dispute involving the former acting group CEO and chief financial officer Robin Nicholson. The SABC has stated that Robin Nicholson will be leaving the SABC with immediate effect. However, according to media reports, it appears that Robin Nicholson believed his contract would be renewed for a further 6 months. SOS notes the potential problems created by this dispute, including further management instability, further fruitless and wasteful expenditure on labour disputes.

The SOS futher says the public broadcaster ''is not a typical company, it is the public broadcaster and must be open, and transparent in its dealings''.

''As SOS we are generally deeply disturbed by this turn of events. It seems that there are deep structural problems at the SABC that are not being dealt with,'' says Kate Skinner, SOS coordinator.

ALSO READ: The dumped Robin Nicholson wants R1,5 million from the SABC after he claims he was offered a contract extension.
ALSO READ: SABC board member Peter Harris who've resigned: ''One day notice for a meeting in a multi billion rand company is poor corporate governance.''
ALSO READ: Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) on the SABC scandal: ''It defies belief that 4 years later the SABC has no group CEO, CFO or CEO.''
ALSO READ: The SABC's new acting group CEO Phil Molefe tells SABC2's Morning Live: ''There is no crisis at the SABC.''
ALSO READ: The Independent Producers' Organisation (IPO): ''Are we witnessing the self-destruction of the South African public broadcaster?''
ALSO READ: The dumped Robin Nicholson ready to sue the SABC for millions after the latest massive upheaval at the public broadcaster.
ALSO READ: Phil Molefe suddenly appointed as the new acting group CEO at the SABC.
ALSO READ: Mike Siluma suddenly appointed as the new acting head of news at the SABC.
ALSO READ: Peter Harris suddenly resigns as SABC board member for unknown reasons.
ALSO READ: Robin Nicholson is out the door; cut from the SABC - but we thought he would stay ... and he says he is and will be back on Monday!
ALSO READ: The SABC board suddenly has sweeping superpowers to make and appoint any executives to management positions they want.

OPINION: Are morons running the SABC? What kind of people at the broadcaster are executing decisions in the worst way possible?
OPINION: Callously killing itself: How the SABC as a Ouroboros broadcasting beast, fuels its own destruction by constantly devouring its own.