Marcel Golding will face a disciplinary hearing into the gross misconduct allegations on Monday 27 October, while he is apparently trying to block his suspension.
The charges against Marcel Golding were "found to be of a very serious nature warranting disciplinary action," says HCI in a statement.
Marcel Golding's shocking suspension is the second high-level, high-profile suspension within South Africa's TV industry, following that of Leo Manne, the SABC's general manager for TV channels.
Marcel Golding, a former trade unionist, has been the executive chairperson of HCI since 1997 and has been a prominent figure in South Africa's television industry, outspoken about the country's looming, and long-delayed and far behind schedule switch from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT).
HCI is the holding company of the media group subsidiary, Sabido Investments, which owns the commercial free-to-air TV channel e.tv, 24-hour TV news channel eNCA (DStv 403), Sasani Studios and Platco Digital's OpenView HD (OVHD).
HCI refuses to say why Marcel Golding was suspended and is unwilling to give reasons, saying that "HCI will take such steps as are necessary to protect its interests".
