In a shock-move that again brought a renewed perception of instability to the SABC board, board member Rachel Kalidass quit in protest against what she says is the new SABC board's bulldozer plan to appoint the fraud and corruption linked Alan Mukoki as new SABC CEO.
Rachel Kalidass who said she feels she is being victimised as a SABC board member for voicing dissent, said in her shocking resignation letter that the SABC board decided to create a "cleaning up committee" to deal with the "bad publicity" when news comes that Alan Mukoki is to be appointed as the new SABC CEO.
Alan Mukoki was Land Bank CEO when shocking looting took place and the bank became insolvent as more than R2 billion was diverted to other spending that was earmarked to help emerging farmers. Alan Mukoki has faced an investigation for fraud and corruption for alleged mismanagement of the Land Bank's finances.
On Thursday the SABC was once again engulfed in controversy over Rachel Kalidass' resignation.
In her resignation letter, addressed to president Jacob Zuma, she explained how SABC board members are determined to allegedly push through Alan Mukoki's appointment.
Alan Mukoki has no broadcast management experience whatsoever in film, TV and radio with the SABC that is in dire need of experienced top executives.
A 2007 Deloitte & Touche forensic audit found that Alan Mukoki and his executives had - without board approval - diverted almost R2 billion meant for emerging farmers.
These included luxury golf estates, a sugar mill, equestrian estates and residential developments. Some of the beneficiaries of irregular loans were Alan Mukoki's business associates and politicians.
Alan Mukoki resigned and was given a R4.5 million golden hand-shake payout.
Alan Mukoki is married to Johanna Makgalemele, the sister of Tswelopele Productions owner Basetsana Kumalo. Tswelopele Productions provides a variety of shows for the SABC ranging from Top Billing and Pasella to Expresso and Tropika Island of Treasure.
Rachel Kalidass said Alan Mukoki's appointment as SABC CEO would be a conflict of interest.
Rachel Kalidass said she believes that the appointment of Alan Mukoki would hinder "the restoration of stability and integrity at the SABC".
The SABC posted another R977 million loss end-September with the Auditor-General(AG) that has described the SABC as "commercially insolvent".
"Despite the GCEO candidate having allegations of fraud and corruption leveled against him during his previous employment, as well as a conflict of interest with a significant SABC content service provider, the majority of board members were in favour of having him appointed as the SABC GCEO," wrote Rachel Kalidass.
"I specifically requested for my dissenting view to be recorded, which was received with great hostility by some of the board members present."
"Given this fundamental difference of opinion between me and many of the board members, I feel that it would be best to resign with immediate effect, as opposed to being side-lined and victimised, which I feel is now occurring".
Rachel Kalidass said the SABC board decided to "set up a "cleaning up committee" of board members' with media experience which would respond to the anticipated "bad publicity" following his appointment".
Parliament's portfolio committee on communication is set to meet with the SABC next week Friday, but the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party on Thursday said it will ask for the date to be made earlier due to the latest crisis that has engulfed the SABC following Rachel Kalidass' resignation and her revelations about Alan Mukoki.
Phumzile Van Damme, DA member of parliament in a statement said "Rachel Kalidass' resignation is a sign that the bad times are back at the SABC".
"It is deeply worrying that the decline at the SABC is following the same pattern as it did with the previous board," said Phumzile Van Damme.
"A candidate in Hlaudi Motsoeneng was forced through despite objections from some SABC board members, some board members' resignation, or were dismissed following their objections, resulting in a terminal downward spiral culminating in the SABC inquiry".
"The SABC is showing all the signs of going down that same road unless the decline is arrested immediately".
The SABC News (DStv 404) channel carried the beginning of the press conference where 9 SABC board members were present, but abruptly cut away after 15 minutes when the press started asking questions.
During the press conference SABC board members didn't deny that Alan Mukoki is the preferred candidate for SABC CEO and slammed Rachel Kalidass.
New SABC board chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini said the SABC board is "unified". He looked bad, since Rachel Kalidass' resignation and what she said, showed that the SABC board isn't unified.
Bongumusa Makhathini slammed Rachel Kalidass, saying "we're not going to allow rogue kind of people who get out of the board and go out there because they could not express their views in a structured and in a confidential manner".
The SABC in a statement on Thursday evening said "the process of appointing SABC executives remains unconcluded".
"Once a decision on executive appointments is finalised, the public will be fully taken into the board's confidence, and we will take pride in announcing the team that will manage the turnaround that we firmly believe will bring the SABC back stronger than ever before."
"Work done by the interim board has already ended the steady monthly losses, and is now focusing on the other major financial concern - marshalling forces to address the substantial remaining debt accrued during previous times."
"Rachel Kalidass' self-characterisation as a victimised whistle-blower is incorrect," says the SABC.
"She participated in aboard discussion in which no allegation of illegality was committed or contemplated."
"She then disclosed its content outside the board while the process was ongoing; giving the impression that it had been completed. Her conduct constituted a breach of board confidentiality."
