Bongumusa Makhathini appointed Primedia Studios CEO as it enters 'industrial phase'

by Thinus Ferreira

Primedia Studios has appointed Bongumusa Makhathini as CEO.

Jan du Plessis remains as Primedia Studios president. Both Jan du Plessis and Bongumusa Makhathini will report directly to Jonathan Procter, Primedia Group CEO.

Besides serving as Primedia Studios CEO Bongumusa Makhathini, who is a former SABC board chairperson, will retain his oversight of Primedia OOH. He was appointed as Primedia Outdoor CEO in January 2023.

As Primedia Studios CEO  Bongumusa Makhathini will oversee studio operations, distribution agreements, and sponsorship initiatives and position content for both the local and international markets.

"I am eager to work alongside Bongumusa, whose leadership and vision will be instrumental in bringing these stories to life. Together, we have a unique opportunity to share the creative richness of Africa with the world, and I am committed to ensuring that our content pipeline reflects that depth," says Jan du Plessis.

Bongumusa Makhathini says "The world is ready for stories from Africa, and it is our responsibility to tell them authentically and powerfully".

"This is a pivotal moment for Primedia Studios, and I am excited to lead our team in creating impactful content pathways that resonate across cultures." 

Jonathan Procter says "We are entering an industrial phase for Primedia Studios".

"The creative potential of Africa is vast, and with Jan and Bongumusa steering our efforts, we are well-equipped to enjoy the energy of the creative industry and we will present compelling stories to a global digital audience that is underserved with content from our continent".

"Their combined expertise will be instrumental in advancing our content offering in a fast-evolving digital world." 

"As Primedia Studios embarks on this iterative journey, our collaborators, creators, and audiences are invited to celebrate the rich tapestry of African narratives ready to be shared with the world. Together, we can elevate the voices of the continent and showcase the extraordinary talent that defines the creative industries of Africa."

SABC: Ad revenue craters R600 million as viewers flee and TV ratings fall.

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African public broadcaster has lost over R600 million in advertising revenue - its biggest loss in revenue collection so far - as SABC ratings fall across its TV channels which have forced the broadcaster to lower advertising rates.

While struggling to lift ratings for its linear broadcast channels of SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3, the broadcaster is planning to launch its SABC+ video streaming service before the end of this year, hoping that it will lure new viewers, will bring viewers back and will help to stem the churn of viewers fleeing the public broadcaster's TV content.

In a presentation before parliament's portfolio committee on communications, the SABC's top executive said that the struggling broadcaster has lost over R600 million in revenue over the past two years - its biggest loss in revenue collection - due to a significant decline in audiences across its platforms.

The SABC is steadily losing viewers because of a combination of factors.

These range from a lack of new content and compelling local content, a lack of content that resonates with viewers, ongoing schedule disruption, an increase in the number of global video streaming services available locally luring viewers away from traditional television, and the Covid-pandemic that depressed ad spending.

An increase in the number of middle-class TV households switching to lower-tiered pay-TV packages, together with stiff competition from eMedia's free-to-air commercial broadcaster e.tv that is rapidly overtaking the SABC with ongoing, structured content-spend on hugely popular local series, are also big factors denting the public broadcaster's TV ratings month to month.

Then there is the South African government's ongoing switch-off of Sentech's analogue transmitters, cutting off viewers' access from the SABC who haven't migrated to digital terrestrial television (DTT) yet and which has led to further SABC TV rating declines over the past few months.

The SABC is facing a massive uphill battle, especially in prime time. 

Where its programming used to rule the TV roost years ago with a majority share of viewers during prime time, the SABC's aim now is to try and get a prime time TV ratings share of the overall available audience of 25% for SABC1, and 8% for SABC2 during the 2022/2023 financial year.

For the severely ratings damaged SABC3, the SABC hopes to only pull 3% of the entire available TV audience during prime time, during its current financial year.

Madoda Mxakwe, SABC CEO, told parliament regarding revenue loss that "the big one for us is the audience decline particularly in classic revenue and its cost us close to over R600 million because there's always a correlation between positive ARs (audience ratings) as well as revenue growth".

He said "in the past two quarters we have been able to procure over 163 new programmes and these are going to help us to ensure that we increase our audience ratings and that also from a point of growth in revenue that will help."  

SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini again told parliament that MultiChoice as a pay-TV operator should help with the collection of the new TV tax called a "household levy" from DStv subscribers which the SABC wants to be introduced to replace the broken and outdated SABC TV Licence collection system in South Africa. 

"We operate in a very competitive environment. Some we compete with, don't have the constraints that we have and they get to the best product before we can be in a position to close those deals," he said.

"As the executives continue to look for compelling and quality content we will be able to breach that gap and have the content that is compelling that can inspire confidence from the advertisers and from our audiences and really get the SABC numbers to stabilise and to grow."

The SABC said its target is to launch its SABC+ over-the-top (OTT) digital video streaming service during the current 2022/2023 financial year. 

South Africa's public broadcaster wants to replace SABC TV Licence with a compulsory 'media levy'.

by Thinus Ferreira 

The South African public broadcaster is pushing ahead to get its broken SABC TV Licence fee system scrapped and for it to be replaced by a compulsory new tax in the form of a so-called "media levy" that will have to be paid by all households and businesses.

The SABC continues to say that pay-TV operators like MultiChoice and China StarTimes, operating as StarSat in South Africa, will have tack on this "media levy" to subscription fees and pay that over to the SABC to help the public broadcaster.

MultiChoice has publicly vowed that it would not do that and compromise its DStv subscriber database.

In 2021 just 21% - only 2.2 million out of the 10.3 million SABC TV Licence holders that the broadcaster is aware of - bothered to still pay their annual TV licence during the 2020/2021 financial year.

The new TV tax for the SABC would no longer be dependent on whether a person or a TV household has a TV set that can receive SABC signals or be device-specific - for example a tablet or a mobile phone - but is simply based on whether a South African has access to SABC content, irrespective of device.

The SABC appeared before parliament's standing committee on public accounts (SCOPA) on Wednesday to brief the committee on the broadcaster's irregular expenditure and finances with SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini who said that the plan is to replace the outdated SABC TV Licence fee system with a public media levy.

He said that the plan is "the replacement of the current TV Licence regime with what we call a public media levy which also has a component where the subscription major players can also assist with the collection of that public media levy".

"That's very important because it's still one of our major streams of revenue at the SABC, the first one of course being commercial activities - sponsorship, advertising and then immediately after that is the SABC TV Licence which we want to change to be a public media levy".

The SABC also wants to change the so-called "must-carry" regulations further that determines carriage of its TV channels on pay-TV services like MultiChoice's DStv and others, with the SABC that wants to make more money from platforms that carries its content.

"We want those regulations changes for the SABC to benefit from its content fully".

"Because of our very high cost structure, signal distribution cost is still one of the major costs faced by the SABC and we are currently in talks with Sentech to have the tariff that Sentech charges reviewed," Bongumusa Makhathini said.

SABC: No further bailouts

When asked by the committee whether the SABC can rule out any further bailouts for the public broadcaster, Bongumusa Makhathini said "I can confirm that there is no possibility of the SABC coming back for a bailout".

"I can assure you that there will be no need for another bailout for the SABC."

Digital migration, audience decline cutting into revenue

"The SABC revenue decline - one of the themes that drive it is the migration from linear to digital platforms," Yolande van Biljon, SABC CFO, told the committee. 

"In our new financial year, our focus also shifts to putting measures in place to ensure we generate revenue from the digital platforms."

"There are of course our partnerships with Telkom and eMedia and the likes which also provides us access to their platforms that are additional platforms where we are able to generate revenue from."

Ian Plaatjes, SABC COO, said "the decline in audience has a direct impact on the decline in advertising revenue".

"The decline in audience is multi-causational - the global trend that there is. Not much we can do about that. There is an impact on the analogue switch-off but we are managing that with the department of communications and digital technologies."

SABC video streamer to launch Q3 2022

Ian Plaatjes said that the SABC now plans to launch the public broadcaster's own video streaming service, similar to the BBC's iPlayer, by the third quarter of this year.

The SABC initially said it would launch before the end of its current financial year which ends 31 March 2022.

Ian Plaatjes said a big driver of audience loss for the SABC is audience migration to digital.

"Right now we do not have our own digital platform. We have gone to market and are in the final stages of testing the responses of that and we will have our own over-the-top (OTT) platform in the market by the third quarter of the next financial year."

"What that means is we're going to be launching additional channels within the new financial year but we are also changing the process of acquiring content for our channels - we are optimising that."

"It's a big game-changer. And you will see a lot more compelling content coming through on our existing platforms but also on the new channels that we are going to be launching that will also be available on our OTT platform."

"We will be aggressively playing in the digital space."

He said that the SABC started testing the software on Tuesday this week that would allow the broadcaster to commercialise its own streamer's platform as well as the third-party platforms its using.

"We will be using it as a pilot phase for this month and will go live from next month. So for the first time, we will start off a financial year where we have the ability to monetise our digital platforms as well."

ALSO READ: Launch of SABC's video streaming service pushed to next financial year, delayed to sometime before March 2023.

ALSO READ: The SABC plans to launch its video streamer as well as new TV channels from September, promises 'compelling new content' as it shakes up its content acquisition process.

Fired SABC news boss Phathiswa Magopeni says SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe 'tried to control and silence me' as she again says there was political interference at the public broadcaster, reveals board member asked her to interview president's wife.

by Thinus Ferreira

The fired SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni says there was political interference at the South African public broadcaster into the operations of the SABC News newsroom, that SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe allegedly tried to "control and silence me", and that besides requests from the chairperson and SABC CEO to interview president Cyril Ramaphosa, another SABC board member asked her to interview his wife.

In her latest statement, Phathiswa Magopeni doubles down on her earlier statements that SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC board chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini are allegedly guilty of direct political interference for having asked her to do an interview with ANC and South African president Cyril Ramaphosa before the national municipal elections in South Africa in 2021.

About SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe, Phathiswa Magopeni, says "As I have come to know him, whenever I stood my ground when we had serious disagreements on organisational matters, he would accuse me of abuse, and this was meant to control and silence me".

"But the message he sent me saying, 'It stops here', was the breaking point and a premeditated dismissal by my line manager."

"It was an indication that Madoda Mxakwe would never work with me again. All that followed in that grossly flawed disciplinary process was to effect my dismissal at whatever cost."

She alleges that the SABC CEO and SABC chairperson bullied her.

"They both pressured and bullied me without success into approving the unplanned interview and bypass stipulated editorial processes. The same bullying comes through in their responses to my grievance."

Meanwhile Daily Maverick reports that Phathiswa Magopeni has now also revealed that SABC board member Professor Saths Cooper allegedly told her to interview president Cyril Ramaphosa's wife Dr Tshepo Motsepe.

Phathiswa Magopeni revealed that Professor Saths Cooper allegedly sent her a message on 2 December 2021 that reads: "Change focus, go for wife on a very different kind of feature; use me as reference saying I've been pushing you. She knows me from her 1st year medical school days".

"As women are viewers on 1 &2, it'll be a hit – her life etc."

Professor Saths Cooper denies interfering in the operations of the SABC News newsroom.

Phathiswa Magopeni was also in conflict with the SABC's plan to shut down the SABC News Pretoria office as part of planned cut backs.

"I argued that anyone who understands the significance of a public news service in any country would be able to comprehend that SABC News cannot be without a presence in the capital city."

"This is the seat of government, as well as the base of international representatives. I said it would be unimaginable for the BBC to be without a presence in London."

ALSO READ: In shocking move the South African public broadcaster fires SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni - plus reaction.

ALSO READ: SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni refuses broadcaster's massive 'golden handshake' payoff to leave, rebuffs massive cash payout bonus to just go away quietly.

ALSO READ: SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni found guilty of misconduct as disciplinary hearing chairperson recommends a warning as sanction from SABC board.

ALSO READ: Scared SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni details shocking allegations of editorial interference by SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and CEO Madoda Mxakwe who pressured for ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa to do an election interview. 

BREAKING. In shocking move the South African public broadcaster fires SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni - plus reaction:

by Thinus Ferreira

In a shocking move that's incredibly damaging for what remains of its credibility as a public broadcaster and its struggling news division, the SABC on Friday abruptly fired its SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni.

Scroll down for reaction.

The SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe told Phathiswa Magopeni in a letter on Friday that she has been fired, writing, "The SABC finds that there is a breakdown in the trust relationship between you and the SABC".

The SABC ordered Phathiswa Magopeni to hand in all of the broadcaster's property in her possession no later than 12:00 on 31 January. 

Following her appointment in 2016 as SABC News boss, Phathiswa Magopeni has been instrumental in trying to rebuild the credibility and editorial independence of the SABC's struggling news division with her firing that is not just a massive loss for the broadcaster, but hugely damaging for its image and SABC News brand.

After Phathiswa Magopeni's abrupt axing on Friday, all the SABC News bulletins on SABC radio and SABC TV channels instantly switched to propaganda-style "reporting" about it, with very badly-done, one-sided "reporting" in which SABC radio and television news readers only read out what is actually the SABC press statement, without saying so to readers and viewers.

None of the SABC News so-called "news reports" about Phathiswa Pagopeni's firing included any comments from Phathiswa Magopeni herself although it exists, or any facts about what led to the situation, or that Phathiswa Magopeni had accused the SABC CEO and SABC chairperson of gross political interference into the broadcaster's news division, or any actual facts of what's happening now.

Following a disciplinary hearing in late-2021 that found Phathiswa Magopeni guilty on one charge of misconduct for the failure to stop the broadcasting of an episode of the current affairs programme Special Assignment, the SABC has quietly been trying to get rid of Phathiswa Magopeni by trying to get her to accept a massive financial payout to leave - something she has rejected.

The chairperson of the disciplinary hearing recommended a warning for Phathiswa Magopeni, not that she be fired.

The City Press newspaper reported earlier this month that while Phathiswa Magopeni continued to oversee the SABC News division, she had shunned a massive financial offer to leave the troubled SABC that is once again suffering reputational and credibility damage over its news coverage.

According to sources, SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini were ordered by ANC politicians to get rid of Phathiswa Magopeni.

Phathiswa Magopeni said that Madoda Mxakwe is resolute in "hounding" her out of the public broadcaster and that both Madoda Mxakwe and Bongumusa Makhathini called her on 24 October last year and tried to force her to approve and schedule an interview with ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa.

If true, this is a clear transgression of SABC rules against editorial interference by SABC top execs and the SABC board into the operations of the SABC newsroom.

The SABC in a terse statement late on Friday afternoon at 17:22, said that Phathiswa Magopeni "was was afforded an opportunity to submit mitigating factors and to address aggravating factors identified by the SABC, in line with the rule of natural justice and the audi alteram partem principle".

"After several requests for extensions, instead of taking up the opportunity to submit her mitigating factors and distance herself from the remarks in, amongst other things, the heads of argument submitted on her behalf, she elected not to submit her mitigating factors. Thus, she waived her right to do so."

"In the absence of Phathiswa Magopeni’s mitigating factors, the SABC concluded that there is a breakdown in the trust relationship between her and the SABC."

"Consequently, Phathiswa Magopeni’s services have been terminated with immediate effect and she has been informed accordingly."

Gugu Ntuli, SABC spokesperson, didn't say who is the acting SABC News boss in the statement.

Phathiswa Magopeni told the SABC in a letter she wrote earlier this week on 27 January 2022 that "I have been severely prejudiced in the disciplinary hearing process as not only have I been denied the opportunity to provide my mitigating factors to the chairperson for his consideration in relation to sanction, in addition, the SABC intends to consider its own factors in aggravation for purposes of reaching a decision on sanction".

Phathiswa Magopeni told the SABC that she "takes issue with the chairperson's findings and will in due course challenge his findings at the appropriate time and forum".

Exactly as TVwithThinus predicted and noted earlier this year, the completely untenable David vs Goliath battle that has been playing out at the SABC between Phathiswa Magopeni against Madoda Mxakwe and Bongumusa Makhathini, meant that either she or they would very likely be getting fired before 2022 was over.

That has now happened.

With the ANC's next national elective conference taking place at the end of this year, the ANC through Madoda Mxakwe and Bongumusa Makhathini have been revealed to have applied immense pressure and political interference to get rid of Phathiswa Magopeni.

Reaction:

Media Monitoring Africa

Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) director William Bird in interviews on Newzroom Afrika and SABC News on Friday night said that the firing of Phathiswa Pagopeni is "a very, very sad day for the SABC and for South Africa".

"There are certain people who will obviously be rejoicing at the turn of events. I think it's sad because thanks to Phathiswa Magopeni, the SABC executive team and of course the SABC board that have been able to restore the credibility and independence of the SABC over the last couple of years."

"If you look at where it was in 2016, Phathiswa came in and she has been able to do an incredible job. For her tenure at the SABC to end in this particular manner is really an unfortunate way for things to be going at the SABC."

Bemawu

The Bemawu trade union at the SABC of which Phathiswa Magopeni was not a member, on Friday night said that Bemawu "is utterly shocked by the decision of the SABC to fire her".

Hannes du Buisson, Bemawu president, told SABC News in an interview at 20:20 that "Phathiswa Magopeni is the first person ever in the history at the SABC who got fired because she did not distance herself from heads of argument that were submitted by her lawyer, because that is essentially what she's being fired for".

"Phathiswa Magopeni is not a member of Bemawu but we are concerned about the state of affairs and the way that disciplinary action has been taken against her as an SABC employee, regardless of whether that person is a member or not."

South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) ONE

Sbu Ngalwa, chairperson of the South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef), said that the organisation "is extremely disappointed by this SABC decision to terminate the employment of Phathiswa Pagopeni".

He told SABC News in an interview on Friday night that "we had hoped that sanity would prevail and in the end the SABC would follow the direction of the disciplinary hearing which was to give a hearing to Phathiswa Magopeni."

"What muddies the water is that Phathiswa Magopeni has an existing complaint against the SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC board chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini. Given that state of affairs, obviously, you don't expect that the very same people she is complaining against, would give her a fair hearing."

Sbu Ngalwa said "one would have expected, at the very least, that her complaint is heard and adjudicated before you have a decision taken by SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe. In this instance Madoda Mxakwe is pretty much referee and player given the fact that he has a pending complaint against him."

"The optics of Phathiswa Magopeni's dismissal actually do not look good for the SABC and I think it takes the SABC a few steps backwards."

"The SABC comes from the sad era of Hlaudi Motsoeneng who mismanaged the SABC. We know the ratings of the SABC in recent months and years have shown when it took a decision to turn around to be an independent and impartial public broadcaster, the results are there for everyone to see. It is about the work that we have seen for years."

South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) TWO

In an official statement on Saturday morning, Sanef says it condemns the "outrageous decision" to fire Phathiswa Magopeni, that the SABC top management and SABC board are behaving in a questionable manner and that Phathiswa Magopeni "has been treated unfairly by the SABC as they continued to ignore her submissions to their various nefarious intents".

Sanef said Phathiswa Pagopeni's axing as SABC News boss "comes before a panel had adjudicated her very serious grievances against SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini, alleging that they had interfered in the editorial independence of the SABC by forcing her to set up interviews with ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa, during last year's municipal elections campaign".

"Phathiswa Magopeni confidently contends that her sacking is directly linked to her refusal to take instructions from her bosses."

"This pattern needs to be condemned because it makes a mockery of labour laws and associated processes. It also leads to a mistrust of our public institutions and denies the state broadcaster their constitutionally protected freedom of media."

"An environment where people can be fired following political interference by the ANC-influenced elections campaign leads to self-censorship and restraints journalists and media workers from the freedom they need to do their job."

"Phathiswa Magopeni has been treated unfairly by the SABC as they continued to ignore her submissions to their various nefarious intents, such as calling her to give reasons for mitigation against her dismissal, which she wrote back to, yet they ignored that and released an ill-informed statement regarding her dismissal."

"The SABC management and board, since making the announcement to charge Magopeni, has carried itself in a questionable manner that has not only been disheartening, but has also put a negative dent on the reputation of the public broadcaster."

Sanef says "It's unfortunate that the gains made in recent years since Magopeni assumed the leadership of the news team are now being taken backward, by a management team that wants to see the news division led asunder with clear political influence from the ANC."

"Sanef remains committed to media freedom and believe that the news division of the SABC should continue pushing back against intentional ANC propagandas, in whatever shape or form they take. We will continue to support editors at a key institution such as the SABC, who continue to fight back against any undue editorial interference."

"We are resolute that this outrageous decision by the SABC will be challenged by all endeavouring to see an independent SABC newsroom. The public, the main stakeholder in the institution, envisage to see no political interference at the public broadcaster."

Democratic Alliance (DA) political party

The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party in a statement late on Friday night said "Today's decision to fire SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni does not come as a complete surprise in light of recent worrying signs of efforts to politically capture the SABC".

The DA's member of parliament (MP) Zakhele Mbhele said "today's outcome tells us that the stench of state capture and political interference still lingers in the fabric of our public broadcaster, echoing the Hlaudi Motsoeneng era".

The DA said it would ask for the portfolio committee on communications and digital technologies in parliament to convene for a meeting as soon as possible "to have the SABC board and senior management account to parliament for Phathiswa Magopeni's firing, the severity of which is a patently disproportionate sanction in relation to the findings of her disciplinary process, and points in the wrong direction about the protection of editorial independence at the SABC going forward".

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party

The EFF political party's member of parliament (MP) Mbuyiseni Ndlozi on Friday night said that "the dismissal of Phathiswa Magopeni from SABC must be welcome [sic]. Her mission was to turn SABC into an eNCA lite. She did not appreciate the centrality of SABC's mandate to the entire South African public. At all material times she sought to dwarf it's public mandate. Good riddance!"

Campaign for Free Expression

Anton Harber, executive director of the Campaign for Free Expression, says "The context is that the SABC has in the past few years stabilised itself, asserted its independence and under Phathiswa Magopeni re-established a credibility and trustworthiness of its news product.".

He says her firing "also comes just shortly after she's come under personal attack from key ANC leaders and she has herself complained of editorial interference by SABC management, the people who are firing her".

ALSO READ: SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni refuses broadcaster's massive 'golden handshake' payoff to leave, rebuffs massive cash payout bonus to just go away quietly.

ALSO READ: SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni found guilty of misconduct as disciplinary hearing chairperson recommends a warning as sanction from SABC board.

ALSO READ: Scared SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni details shocking allegations of editorial interference by SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and CEO Madoda Mxakwe who pressured for ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa to do an election interview. 

South African public broadcaster and its divided board embarks on new plan to get rid of SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni ordered by ANC politicians - report.

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African public broadcaster -with the SABC board once again divided - has reportedly embarked on a new plan to get rid of its SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni, allegedly ordered by ANC politicians after she alleged that SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini are guilty of gross political editorial interference at the broadcaster.

Following a disciplinary hearing that found Phathiswa Magopeni guilty of misconduct for the failure to stop the broadcasting of an episode of the current affairs programme Special Assignment, the once-again troubled SABC has started on another process to get rid of her, the City Press newspaper reported on Sunday.

According to the newspaper, the SABC demanded that Phathiswa Magopeni submit a "mitigation argument" for the outcome of her disciplinary hearing and is also going after her over her allegation that SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini directly called her to ask her to interview ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa during South Africa's election campaigning period before the municipal elections in 2021.  

According to City Press, the SABC board is divided into two camps, with 5 SABC board members supporting Madoda Mxakwe and Bongumusa Makhathini, and the other 5, including deputy SABC board member Mamodupi Mohlala, opposed against firing and getting rid of Phathiswa Magopeni.

The SABC board agreed that the shocking allegations over Madoda Mxakwe and Bongumusa Makhathini editorial interference should be investigated, but differ and couldn't agree on the approach.

Meanwhile no-one is being held accountable.

City Press reports that, according to sources, SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini were ordered by ANC politicians to get rid of Phathiswa Magopeni.

"The fact that she filed a grievance against them about interference in the editorial policy added fuel to the fire," a source told City Press newspaper.

"These are the same charges that got former SABC acting COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng fired, and it was the same interference in editorial policy that got parliament to institute a commission of inquiry led by Joe Thloloe to come up with a clear framework on that editorial policy."

Another insider said that there is "a witch-hunt to get rid of her. It's not because she isn't a capable leader. She's being hunted for defending the editorial policy, the newsroom and their independence."

ALSO READ: SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni found guilty of misconduct as disciplinary hearing chairperson recommends a warning as sanction from SABC board.

ALSO READ: Scared SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni details shocking allegations of editorial interference by SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and CEO Madoda Mxakwe who pressured for ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa to do an election interview.

SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni found guilty of misconduct as disciplinary hearing chairperson recommends a warning as sanction from SABC board.

by Thinus Ferreira

Advocate Nazir Cassim has found the SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni guilty of misconduct in a disciplinary hearing, and recommended a warning to her as a sanction from the SABC board.

Phathiswa Magopeni was charged with negligence, with bringing the SABC into disrepute and for failing todischarge her fiduciary duties after an episode of Special Assignment was broadcast by SABC3 through its final control centre (FCC).

While the broadcast of the episode of an investigation into tow trucks, was interdicted by the court and not allowed to be aired yet, a coding error and wrong labelling led to the episode of Special Assignment to be shown.

In turn, Phathiswa Magopeni in a 9-page letter, slammed SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and said that they are trying to "destroy" her after she rebuffed their attempts to get her to approve a sudden interview for South African and ANC political party president Cyril Ramaphosa during the ANC's recent election campaign in Limpopo.

Phathiswa Madoda said Madoda Mxakwe is resolute in "hounding" her out of the public broadcaster and accused both Madoda Mxakwe and Bongumusa Makhathini of gross editorial interference into the operations of SABC News.

On Thursday, after a disciplinary hearing of 3 days, Advocate Nazir Cassim in a written verdict found Phathiswa Magopeni guilty of only one of the 3 charges, after the Special Assignment mistake, as the head of SABC News and said that "the programme belonged to her department".

Advocate Nazir Cassim said that Phathiswa Magopeni "demonstrated a lack of understanding of her role in the sphere of accountability and corporate governance".

"The employee's written closing argument as prepared by Ms Carvalho regrettably complicates matters and casts the employee in a bad light".

Advocate Nazir Cassim recommended that the SABC board allows Phathiswa Magopeni to "distance herself from the contents of paragraph 36 as it would be unjust to punish Phathiswa Magopeni for a submission and an opinion of her attorney".

In paragraph 36, Phathiswa Magopeni's attorney writes that "the charges brought against the employee are a farce and done so hastily".

"If, however, Phathiswa Magopeni makes common cause with the view of her attorney, then the SABC board must, in its discretion and decision-making power, adopt a sanction which is consistent with that of a breakdown in the trust relationship between employer and employee."

"In short, it is now upon Phathiswa Magopeni to decide her own future with the SABC."

Advocate Nazir Cassim said any SABC board sanction must be "just and equitable to both employer and employee. This, however, is a decision that rests with the CEO and the Board of the SABC".

ALSO READ: Media allowed to attend SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni's disciplinary hearing today as she accuses public broadcaster's chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and CEO Madoda Mxakwe of editorial interference.

ALSO READ: Implicated SABC board chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini wants Mary Papayya gone from case over alleged SABC News editorial interference around Cyril Ramaphosa election interview since she's a member of Sanef as news boss Phathiswa Magopeni's disciplinary hearing looms.

ALSO READ: South Africa's public broadcaster wants to keep proceedings of disciplinary hearing of its SABC news boss Phathiswa Magopeni secret as lawyers for South African National Editors Forum and CFE demand that media be allowed to attend.

ALSO READ: Scared SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni details shocking allegations of editorial interference by SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and CEO Madoda Mxakwe who pressured for ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa to do an election interview.

ALSO READ: SABC board says its takes SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni's allegations of editorial interference atSABC News of SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini 'seriously' but 'won't comment further at this stage'. 

Media allowed to attend SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni's disciplinary hearing today as she accuses public broadcaster's chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and CEO Madoda Mxakwe of editorial interference.

by Thinus Ferreira

The media will be able to attend the disciplinary hearing of the South African public broadcaster's SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni today who claims that she is being hounded out of the SABC and accused the SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe of gross editorial interference into the operations of SABC News.

Gugu Ntuli, SABC spokesperson has no comment.

Phathiswa Magopeni has been charged with negligence and of bringing the SABC into disrepute, after which she accused Bongumusa Makhathini and Madoda Mxakwe of editorial interference.

Media are allowed to attend Phathiswa Magopeni's disciplinary hearing starting today, after chairperson of the hearing, Advocate Nazeer Cassim ruled that journalists will be allowed into the disciplinary meeting to report on it.

It follows after lawyers for the South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) and the Campaign for Free Expression (CFE) demanded that the disciplinary hearing be opened to the public since the SABC is a public broadcaster, although the SABC wanted to keep the disciplinary hearing's proceedings secret.

 Meanwhile, SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini, who is implicated in the allegations of editorial interference, instead of recusing himself, wants to get rid of another SABC board member, Mary Papayya because she is a member of Sanef.

The Campaign for Free Expression (CFE) says that the media are allowed inside the disciplinary hearing "is an important victory with the hearing of this nature where there is strong public interest should be open".

"The SABC should be fully transparent, so the public can see if there is any validity to the claims that Phathiswa Magopeni is being targeted because she stood up against editorial interference. It is a very important point and hopefully, we will be able to establish the facts because the hearing will be fully open."

Sanef says that "there are charges levelled against Phathiswa Magopeni, for allegedly bringing the SABC into disrepute but at the same time, there are counterclaims from Phathiswa Magopeni which are directed at chairperson of the board and the CEO of the corporation."

"There are allegations of meddling and interference in news operations at SABC. As Sanef that is concerning to us, because we do know that the SABC comes from that history of political manipulation. We would hate to see the corporation go back to those days."

ALSO READ: Implicated SABC board chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini wants Mary Papayya gone from case over alleged SABC News editorial interference around Cyril Ramaphosa election interview since she's a member of Sanef as news boss Phathiswa Magopeni's disciplinary hearing looms.

ALSO READ: South Africa's public broadcaster wants to keep proceedings of disciplinary hearing of its SABC news boss Phathiswa Magopeni secret as lawyers for South African National Editors Forum and CFE demand that media be allowed to attend.

ALSO READ: Scared SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni details shocking allegations of editorial interference by SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and CEO Madoda Mxakwe who pressured for ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa to do an election interview.

ALSO READ: SABC board says its takes SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni's allegations of editorial interference atSABC News of SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini 'seriously' but 'won't comment further at this stage'. 

Implicated SABC board chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini wants Mary Papayya gone from case over alleged SABC News editorial interference around Cyril Ramaphosa election interview since she's a member of Sanef as news boss Phathiswa Magopeni's disciplinary hearing looms.

by Thinus Ferreira

The SABC board has split after the implicated chairperson of the South African public broadcaster, Bongumusa Makhathini wants SABC board member Mary Papayya removed from a serious grievance over alleged SABC News editorial interference involving president Cyril Ramaphosa because she is a member of the South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef).

Meanwhile the disciplinary hearing of the SABC News boss, Phathiswa Magopeni - that the SABC wants to keep secret - is set for this coming week, with Phathiswa Magopeni who is charged with alleged negligence and bringing the SABC into disrepute, who made the serious allegation that Bongumusa Makhathini and SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe are both guilty of political editorial interference of SABC News.

The Sunday Times newspaper on Sunday reported that Bongumusa Makhathini - who himself is implicated in the serious grievance of alleged SABC News editorial interference - wants SABC board member Mary Papayya gone from deliberations over a grievance of allegations of editorial interference since she is a member of Sanef.

Sanef has demanded that the disciplinary hearing of Phathiswa Magopeni, given the seriousness of the charges and her allegations, be open for the media to attend and for the public to see since the SABC is a public broadcaster.

Gugu Ntuli, SABC spokesperson, didn't respond to media queries about Bongumusa Makhathini's demand.

Bongumusa Makhathini, in a letter to SABC deputy board member, Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi, demands that Mary Papayya must remove herself from "any discussions or decision-making" over the allegations of SABC News editorial interference because she is a member of Sanef.

He claims that because Mary Papayya is a member of Sanef and because Sanef has "declared an interest with respect to Phathiswa Magopeni's disciplinary proceedings", Mary Papayya must step aside.

"In this light, it cannot be acceptable that Mary Papayya participates in any further discussions and/or decision-making on a matter in which Sanef has declared a strong, legal interest."

Bongumusa Makhathini wants Mary Papayya gone from SABC board meetings that discuss Phathiswa Magopeni because according to him she won't "act impartially".

"Even if Mary Papayya recuses herself from Sanef meetings when SABC matters are discussed this does not cure the conflict of interest. Mary Papayya sits on the Sanef management committee and the Sanef council, which is that organisation's highest decision-making body."

"Likewise she sits on the SABC board, which is the public broadcaster's highest decision-making body and which will play a role in the outcome of the grievance lodged against me," Bongumusa Makhathini writes.

"It is therefore my respectful submission that Mary Papayya cannot participate in any further discussions and/or decisions on the grievance lodged against me."

"After 4 years of resolutely defending the independence of the SABC as board chairperson, it now seems widely accepted as fact, based on an untested grievance, that I am part of a 'political conspiracy' to interfere with the SABC's editorial independence and charge Phathiswa Magopeni."

"The damage to my reputation has been incalculable and it is therefore crucially important that the process to adjudicate this grievance is fair and impartial."

Phathiswa Magopeni who said she is scared and is being hounded out of the SABC, said that the SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe are both guilty of direct editorial interference in the operations of SABC News after they asked for SABC News to do an interview with ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa during the election campaigning period before the recent municipal elections.

Phathiswa Magopeni responded after she was slapped with a disciplinary hearing - set for 17 December that looks like it's a SABC witch-hunt - for allegedly bringing the SABC into disrepute and for alleged negligence. 

In her 9-page letter, Phathiswa Magopeni slams SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini for trying to "destroy" her after she rebuffed their attempts to get her to approve a sudden interview for South African and ANC political party president Cyril Ramaphosa during the ANC's recent election campaign in Limpopo.

Phathiswa Madoda says Madoda Mxakwe is resolute in "hounding" her out of the public broadcaster and that both Madoda Mxakwe and Bongumusa Makhathini called her on 24 October and tried to force her to approve and schedule an interview with Cyril Ramaphosa - a clear transgression of SABC rules against editorial interference by SABC top execs and the SABC board into the operations of the SABC newsroom.

"The calls I received from Madoda Mxakwe went beyond seeking clarity about why the interview could not be done. He was putting undue pressure on me to co-ordinate that the interview be done, despite this falling outside the news division's editorial processes and being outright interference. I refused."

"He even mentioned having spoken to the minister about the issue, which I found bizarre because this was an editorial matter. I kept explaining why this was wrong and in violation of the prescribed editorial processes," Phathiswa Magopeni writes.

Then suddenly Bongumusa Makhathini called Phathiswa Magopeni although SABC board members are not allowed to do that and are prohibited from editorial interference at SABC News. He asked Phathishwa Magopeni what is happening with the Cyril Ramaphosa interview.

"I said I had done nothing because it would have been an editorial transgression. He went as far as saying the ANC president was in his final leg of the campaign and would be making his way to the SABC afterwards."

"I asked him what he was coming to do as news had no scheduled interview with him, and there was no preparation for such by editors."

"He asked me if the president would have to leave the SABC without doing the interview. I emphatically said from a news point of view, yes, because no editor had knowledge of that interview and it would be a breach of editorial transparency in our newsroom processes."

In May Bongumusa Makhathini also interfered with the operations of SABC News when he also called Phathiswa Magopeni during the succession battle surrounding the Zulu royal family and instructed her that "the other side of the family" should also be given airtime.

Bongumusa Makhathini also sent Phathiswa Magopeni a white envelope with court papers through a security guard that handed her the envelope in the SABC parking area, similar to the modus operandi that a previous SABC chairperson Ben Ngubane employed where he would scream at staffers and hand them documents. 

ALSO READ: South Africa's public broadcaster wants to keep proceedings of disciplinary hearing of its SABC news boss Phathiswa Magopeni secret as lawyers for South African National Editors Forum and CFE demand that media be allowed to attend.

ALSO READ: Scared SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni details shocking allegations of editorial interference by SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and CEO Madoda Mxakwe who pressured for ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa to do an election interview.

ALSO READ: SABC board says its takes SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni's allegations of editorial interference atSABC News of SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini 'seriously' but 'won't comment further at this stage'. 

South Africa's public broadcaster wants to keep proceedings of disciplinary hearing of its SABC news boss Phathiswa Magopeni secret as lawyers for South African National Editors Forum and CFE demand that media be allowed to attend.

by Thinus Ferreira

While South Africa's public broadcaster wants to keep the proceedings and what is being said and revealed in the upcoming disciplinary hearing of its SABC news boss Phathiswa Magopeni secret, lawyers for the South African National Editors' Forum and the Campaign for Free Expression (CFE) are now taking action and demanding that the media be allowed to attend.

Phathiswa Magopeni who said she is scared and is being hounded out of the SABC, said that the SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe are both guilty of direct editorial interference in the operations of SABC News after they asked for SABC News to do an interview with ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa during the election campaigning period before the recent municipal elections.

Phathiswa Magopeni responded after she was slapped with a disciplinary hearing - set for 17 December that looks like it's a SABC witch-hunt - for allegedly bringing the SABC into disrepute and for alleged negligence. 

It comes after an episode about tow trucking was broadcast in November on Special Assignment while a court interdict was in effect against the investigative magazine show.

Gugu Ntuli, SABC spokesperson, initially wouldn't comment on the latest SABC and SABC News scandal about alleged editorial interference.

Last week the SABC finally responded only to say it won't comment on the case, with the SABC board noting that it takes Phathiswa Magopeni's allegations of editorial interference at SABC News "seriously".

Now the South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) and the Campaign for Free Expression (CFE) are demanding that the media is given access to Phathiswa Magopeni's disciplinary hearing, and that the hearing takes place openly and transparently.

"An open and transparent process will not only assist the public to make up its mind on the case, but it will also aid the SABC to dispel the perception that the process is part of a political witch-hunt," says Sbu Ngalwa, Sanef chairperson.

 

"Sanef reiterates its respect for the SABC's internal processes and being able to hold staff accountable - hence we are not calling for the disciplinary action to be abandoned but rather for it to be open to the public as the issues at hand are a matter of great public interest."

Anton Harber, CFE executive director, says "Too much is at stake for this to happen behind closed doors".

"Phathiswa Magopeni has said that she is being hounded out because she has resisted political interference. We need the public to see if this is a return to the days when factional politics dominated the SABC and buried its public service mandate."

Lawyers for Sanef and CFE have written to the chair of the hearing, Advocate Nazeer Cassim, to ask that the media be allowed to attend the proceedings. 

Nazeer Cassim has asked the Sanef and CFE legal team to argue the case for openness when the hearing begins on 17 December. 

The SABC has already refused a Sanef request to open the hearings and are therefore expected to oppose the call for openness and transparency.

"The South African public broadcaster is no ordinary employer," Sanef and CFE say in a media statement.

"The public broadcaster plays a unique role in South Africa’s deliberative democracy, which it can either foster or undermine. Phathiswa Magopeni's grievance squarely impugns the SABC's impartiality and independence."

"Whether she indeed acted negligently in breaching a court order is a matter of public interest."

"The SABC has been on the right course to restore its public service values and to reverse the damage caused by years of political interference and manipulation. As a society we must be vigilant to prevent this from happening again.

ALSO READ: Scared SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni details shocking allegations of editorial interference by SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and CEO Madoda Mxakwe who pressured for ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa to do an election interview.

ALSO READ: SABC board says its takes SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni's allegations of editorial interference atSABC News of SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini 'seriously' but 'won't comment further at this stage'.

SABC board says its takes SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni's allegations of editorial interference atSABC News of SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini 'seriously' but 'won't comment further at this stage'.

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African public broadcaster in a terse, late-Thursday statement said that it won't comment on allegations that the SABC CEO and SABC chairperson have been involved in editorial interference in the SABC News newsroom but take the grievances from the SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni seriously.

It follows after Phathiswa Magopeni revealed alleged editorial interference at SABC News in written complaints, after she was hauled to a disciplinary hearing set for this month for alleged negligence and bringing the name of the SABC into disrepute.

After the SABC's spokesperson Gugu Ntuli refused to comment earlier this week in response to media queries, the SABC on Thursday after the close of the business day, suddenly issued a terse statement saying that the SABC board "takes seriously the grievances lodged by the group executive: news and current affairs, Phathiswa Magopeni against the chairperson of the board Bongumusa Makhathini and the CEO, Madoda Mxakwe".

"The SABC board assures that the matter is being processed fairly and in accordance with SABC policies. The SABC board believes that the processes underway should be allowed to conclude and will not comment further at this stage."

The latest SABC scandal is once again damaging the struggling broadcaster's reputation and brand, as well as inflicting further damage on the credibility of SABC News.

After disciplinary proceedings were started against the highly-respected Phathiswa Magopeni charging her with negligence and bringing the SABC into disrepute after an episode of Special Assignment was broadcast on SABC3 about the towing industry that still had to be withheld because of a court interdict, Phathiswa Magopeni came forth with shocking revelations of alleged editorial interference inside the broadcaster.

In her 9-page letter, Phathiswa Magopeni slams SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe and SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini for trying to "destroy" her after she rebuffed their attempts to get her to approve a sudden interview for South African and ANC political party president Cyril Ramaphosa during the ANC's recent election campaign in Limpopo.

Phathiswa Madoda says Madoda Mxakwe is resolute in "hounding" her out of the public broadcaster and that both Madoda Mxakwe and Bongumusa Makhathini called her on 24 October and tried to force her to approve and schedule an interview with Cyril Ramaphosa - a clear transgression of SABC rules against editorial interference by SABC top execs and the SABC board into the operations of the SABC newsroom.

Madoda Mxakwe called Phathiswa Magopeni first and told her that ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe wanted the SABC to do a radio interview with Cyril Ramaphosa. Phathiswa Magopeni said no and that doing a special interview would have "made a mockery" of SABC News.

"The calls I received from Madoda Mxakwe went beyond seeking clarity about why the interview could not be done. He was putting undue pressure on me to co-ordinate that the interview be done, despite this falling outside the news division's editorial processes and being outright interference. I refused."

"He even mentioned having spoken to the minister about the issue, which I found bizarre because this was an editorial matter. I kept explaining why this was wrong and in violation of the prescribed editorial processes," Phathiswa Magopeni writes.

Then suddenly Bongumusa Makhathini called Phathiswa Magopeni although SABC board members are not allowed to do that and are prohibited from editorial interference at SABC News. He asked Phathishwa Magopeni what is happening with the Cyril Ramaphosa interview.

"I said I had done nothing because it would have been an editorial transgression. He went as far as saying the ANC president was in his final leg of the campaign and would be making his way to the SABC afterwards."

"I asked him what he was coming to do as news had no scheduled interview with him, and there was no preparation for such by editors."

"He asked me if the president would have to leave the SABC without doing the interview. I emphatically said from a news point of view, yes, because no editor had knowledge of that interview and it would be a breach of editorial transparency in our newsroom processes."

In May Bongumusa Makhathini also interfered with the operations of SABC News when he also called Phathiswa Magopeni during the succession battle surrounding the Zulu royal family and instructed her that "the other side of the family" should also be given airtime.

Bongumusa Makhathini also sent Phathiswa Magopeni a white envelope with court papers through a security guard that handed her the envelope in the SABC parking area, similar to the modus operandi that a previous SABC chairperson Ben Ngubane employed where he would scream at staffers and hand them documents. 

Phathiswa Magopeni says that SABC News has been banned from reporting about her disciplinary hearing charges and her disciplinary hearing, and says that the SABC's corporate communications team only responds with a "no comment" in response to media queries.

"It is my considered view there is a concerted effort by Madoda Mxakwe to push me out of the SABC with the assistance of group HR using the Special Assignment matter."

"With the public political statements being made about me having affected the electoral prospects of the ruling party, I feel extremely unsafe and I fear for my life. I cannot keep quiet."

The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) said in a statement that the timing of the disciplinary hearing against Phathiswa Magopeni "raises eyebrows and suspicions of a possible politically motivated witch-hunt".

Sanef calls for "openness in the handling of the matter".

"Given that the waters have been muddied by the blatant political attacks on Phathiswa Magopeni and the SABC over their coverage of the 1 November elections, we call on the SABC management to make Phathiswa Magopeni's hearing public, in the interests of transparency."

ALSO READ: Scared SABC News boss Phathiswa Magopeni details shocking allegations of editorial interference by SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and CEO Madoda Mxakwe who pressured for ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa to do an election interview.