The South African public broadcaster's chief audit executive, Thami Zikode, survived a shocking assassination attempt on Friday night when he managed to shoot back after assailants followed him home and started firing their guns.
The SABC's SABC News division reported on Friday night that Thami Zikode is safe and unharmed after the shocking attempt to kill him.
Thamsanqa Phineas Zikode (known as Thami) was appointed as the SABC's chief audit executive from December 2017.
On Friday evening after Thami Zikode left the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters, he was secretly followed home by another car. The SABC reports that when he got to the gate of his house, the car's occupants started shooting at him and that he fired back.
A case has been opened at the South African police service.
It's alleged that the attempt to kill Thami Zikode could likely be linked to ongoing forensic investigations within the SABC into allegations of fraud and corruption, with certain people within or connected to South Africa's public broadcaster who fear being exposed.
The SABC says that the broadcaster and Thami Zikode "remains fully committed to ensuring good governance within the corporation".
"The SABC has learnt with shock, the news of the attempted assassination of its chief audit executive, Thami Zikode," says Vuyo Mthembu, SABC spokesperson in a statement late on Friday night just before midnight.
"The attack occured following Thami Zikode leaving work. He was followed hy assailants who fired shots at him. The matter is being handled by the police for further investigation. The SABC is grateful that Thami Zikode was unharmed".
