DIDN'T LAST LONG. Febe Potgieter-Gqubule quits as SABC deputy chairperson, upgrades to ANC political party's election manager.

Just a few months after being appointed as the SABC board's deputy chairperson, Febe Potgieter-Gqubule has decided to quit and upgrade to become the ANC political party's election manager.

Febe Potgieter-Gqubule will now move from Auckland Park to Luthuli House, ditching helping to repair the badly damaged South African public broadcaster to focus on party politics and to looking after the ANC's election operations ahead of South Africa's general election in 2019.

While the move to resign as SABC board member is the right thing to do,  Febe Potgieter-Gqubule's move to become ANC election manager in the first place is seen as opportunistic, given the dire straits the SABC finds itself in and the renewed instability that her departure is placing the SABC in, with an SABC board that once again sits with 3 vacant seats.

Febe Potgieter-Gqubule has been an ANC member for a long time and last last year was asked during hearings for the SABC board whether she would quit if she decides to serves in positions in other ANC structures.

The SABC in a statement says that it has received the resignation of Febe Potgieter-Gqubule.

"The ANC has now confirmed that Febe Potgieter-Gqubule has been appointed as the ANC's elections manager, and accordingly she has tendered her resignation from the SABC board which will be duly communicated to the president and the parliamentary portfolio committee".

"Febe Potgieter-Gqubule's resignation leaves the baord with 3 vacant positions; therefore the SABC will be communicating to the relevant authorities the urgency of appointing the new SABC board members to fill these vacancies".

SABC says it 'still face a serious crisis'; shocks parliament as SABC's spiraling debt continues to balloon to over R600 million during first quarter.

The SABC shocked in its first quarter report-back to South Africa's parliament and revealed that its debt continues to skyrocket and has now grown to over R600 million.

The SABC's growing debt problem is causing other big problems, like the South African public broadcaster that's unable to pay outstanding debt owed to creditors on time. The SABC said its failed in keeping to a 60-days payment schedule.

Febe Potgieter-Gqubule‚ SABC board deputy chairperson told parliament's portfolio committee on communications that the SABC "still face a serious crisis".

The cash-strapped SABC is waiting on a possible R3 billion bailout from the South African government in the form of a government guaranteed bank loan.

Without the government providing a guarantee that it will repay a billion rand loan if the SABC defaults, the SABC that grew its annual loss to R977 million at end-September, on its own can't get any loans.

Nomsa Philiso, acting SABC CEO told parliament that the first quarter of the SABC's current financial year was extremely difficult.

"It was a difficult quarter for the SABC and its performance. If you remember that's when we hit the financial iceberg in terms of our crisis. As at the end of June we were owing our creditors R597 million which has subsequently grown over the months."

"On the positive side we were still able to deliver programming and also to meet our mandate requirements‚" said Nomsa Philiso.

Febe Potgieter-Gqubule told parliament that the new permanent SABC board is "very mindful that we are inheriting a organisation in crisis on a whole range of different levels".

SABC revenue for the first quarter stood at R1.57 billion, falling short of the target of R1.77 billion.

DAILY TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 19 October 2017.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:


■ Where has TStv gone? 18 days after its 1 October launch in Nigeria, TStv is seemingly nowhere.
Biola Kazeem wonders about Nigerian's gullibility and their willingness to accept fake promises like thelies about TV channels TStv says its carrying but isn't allowed to.
- TStv isn't what we need now," says Nigerians. "We actually need an uninterrupted electricity supply".

■ MIPCOM TV market told: Black people are rare as unicorns on prime time TV

■ Australian breakfast show presenter lurks and hides behind her car!
Lisa Wilkingson hides behind her car from the paparazzi after a nasty fight following abreakdown in salary negotiations goes public between a TV star's agent in Australia and the Nine network.

■ China's StarTimes says Uganda is one of the African countries that benefitted from the $2.5 billion contract for digital terrestrial TV migration.
Of course StarTimes itself benefitted commercially too - since it's China's money.
Meanwhile StarTimes has taken 51 journalists from across Africa to Beijing and China for a media tour and to cover the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China but has deliberately excluded South Africa's media.

■ New SABC board Febe Potgieter-Qubule claims:
"I don't see myself compromised". Says her new SABC board position will make her reconsider her role in the ANC going forward.

■ Econet Media officially launches Kwesé TV in Uganda.
Has a media launch event in Kampala where Kwesé TV will now have to battle it out against MultiChoice Uganda's DStv and China's StarTimes for pay-TV viewers.
- Quite inane and non-sensical comments from Herbert Mucunguzi, Kwesé TV Uganda general manager as to what Kwesé TV Uganda offers. You'd think he or the PR people would put in actual effort to come up with non-stock comments not already used before by MultiChoice and StarTimes for their offerings.
- Kwesé TV Zambia's general manager Kapa Kaumba fawning over Zambia's government, likewise talks a lot that means absolutely nothing.


■ Nielsen to measure viewing of shows streaming on Netflix.
The service aiming to measure and find ratings for On Demand video streaming services, will provide data comparable to what Nielsen provides for linear TV, including ratings, reach, frequency and demographics.
- Netflix slams the effort and Nielsen: "The data that Nielsen is reporting is not accurate, not even close, and does not reflect the viewing of these shows on Netflix".

■ Digital TV a massive and expensive flop in Thailand.
Digital terrestrial television migration came too late and audience behaviour had already changed due to technology.

■ Final 4th season of Star Wars Rebels on Disney XD (DStv 304) will be more serialised.
Last season just started in America, no date yet for when it starts in South Africa and Africa, but Dave Filoni says "episodes will be more serialised than you're used to".


■ The actor Javid Iqbal doesn't really exist, Star Trek: Discovery made him up since actor Shazad Latif is apparently playing both Voq who disguises himself to become Ash Tyler.
- Maybe some clarity about the confusing plot points in Star Trek: Discovery.
- Jason Isaacs says Star Trek: Discovery is "of our time, and for our time."
- Klingon Voq can't stay missing for much longer.


■ How big is delayed TV viewing in America?
In some cases it's even bigger than live viewing - in others almost nothing. Here's how some of America's biggest TV shows break down when it comes to viewers who watch it after its been shown.

■ Why competing with Netflix and Amazon is impossible.
MUST WATCH: Barry Diller discusses what makes Netflix and Amazon today's leaders in video.


■ Executive producer of Viacom's The Mist TV drama, Amanda Segel, accuses Harvey Weinstein's brother Bob Weinstein of sexual harassment.
- Variety's TV critic Maureen Ryan says a TV executive sexually assaulted her.
- Hollywood's other open secret: Preying on young boys.
- Inside Harvey Weinstein's horrific history of bullying: "Has never done anything that was consensual".

■ The shamed Roy Price out at Amazon after shocking sexual harassment claims.

■ And a MUST READ: Inside Amazon and the fall of the vulgar exec Roy Price.
As usual Amazon and Roy Price are silent and refused to comment. Amazon insiders reveal Roy Price's "crude sex talk" at gatherings, asked staffers if stars in a TV series would "show their tits";  misogyny of scripts.

■ Fighting the pirates.
How illegal downloads and streaming of TV shows is now impacting the global TV industry.
Netflix says it's pushing to secure global rights and release all originals simultaneously to global members to help address piracy, and "that there's been a notable reduction in piracy in countries where we operate".

■ Lifetime (DStv 131) finally releases a trailer for the delayed 3rd season of UnReal.
The 3rd season will start in America on 26 February 2018 and will this time revolve around a bachelorette looking for Mister Right. No word yet on when the 3rd season will start on Lifetime in South Africa and Africa on MultiChoice's DStv.

■ The delicate art of the TV series finale.
Ending a TV series properly with a perfect final episode is equal parts craft and philosophy.

■ Next year the Swiss will vote to get rid of TV and radio licence fees.
Switzerland voting in March 2018 on a proposal to scrap the licence fee for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).

■ Nigerian presenter of a TV crime show sues over being blocked by Nigerian police.
Aisha Tosan, the presenter of presenter of Crime Fighters, Police and You files papers in Lagos High Court to stop Nigeria's police from blocking her, and impeding her right to give out information.

■ Chelsea Handler's talk show, Chelsea, on Netflix cancelled after 2 seasons.
Went from daily in the first season, to weekly in the second season to cancelled.

■ In a new generation of social media-driven dramas
viewers decide the outcome in the next episode, as part of TV's next big new trend.

South African president Jacob Zuma finally appoints the long-overdue SABC board; conflict of interest as new chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini also chairs foundation of his wife Bongi Ngema-Zuma.

South African president Jacob Zuma on Tuesday finally rubber-stamped and approved the SABC board following a threat of legal action from civil society and public broadcasting organisations with his new choice of SABC chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini immediately finding himself in a conflict of interest as the chairperson of a foundation of one Zuma's wives.

The under siege presidency of Jacob Zuma on Tuesday finally announced the long-overdue decision to appoint the names recommended by parliament weeks ago, after having missed the deadline to approve the board and to choose and announce who the chairperson and deputy chairperson should be.

Jacob Zuma deliberately decided to damaged the beleaguered South African public broadcaster more by not appointing the board, with the rudderless SABC that has been drifting along without any board after the term of the SABC interim board had expired.

Jacob Zuma appointed Bongumusa Makhathini as SABC board chairperson who is the head executive for legal at British American Tobacco; and Febe Potgieter-Gqubule as SABC board deputy chairperson who is a former African Union deputy chief of staff.

The other SABC board members are Krish Naidoo, Khanyisile Kweyama, John Matisonn, Mathatha Tsedu, Rachel Kalidass, Michael Markovitz, Victor Rambau, Dinkwanyane Mohuba, and Jack Phalane.

Nomvuyiso Batyi withdrew her application for an undisclosed reason.

Bongumusa Makhathini is embroiled in a conflict of interest - he is also the chairperson of the Bongi Ngema-Zuma Foundation, a foundation of Bongi Ngema-Zuma, who is one of Jacob Zuma's wives.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party in a statement said "The chairman, Bongumusa Makhathini, is also the chairman of a foundation run by one of President Zuma's wives, Bongi Ngema-Zuma. His proximity to the Zuma family is a concern," said Phumzile van Damme, DA member of parliament.

"The SABC deputy chairperson Febe Potgieter-Gqubule, has been a close ally and adviser to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, with strong political ties to the ANC. During the interviews, she even admitted that there is a possibility that she would resign from the SABC board if she is elected to the ANC National Executive Committee."

"We further note that Nomvuyiso Batyi withdrew her application. The portfolio committee on communications has agreed to deliberate on the pool of candidates from the last interviews to find a suitable replacement," said Phumzile van Damme.

"It is reassuring that there are some very qualified and suitable individuals on the board and we wish them well all during their tenure. We will be keeping a hawk's eye on the board's work."

"It is now up to them to stand up against corruption and political interference.The DA remains committed to ensuring that the SABC is not re-captured by individuals who don't have South Africans' interests at heart."

ANC secretary-general Gwede Matashe voiced the same criticism over the SABC chairperson on Tuesday from Luthuli House.

"We raised concerns when we saw the pronounced board and said we know South African as a noisy country, pays attention to everything."

"It’s an issue. He is appointed and that is an institutional appointment but we say that issue is an issue that will be raising eyebrows."

The Right2Know campaign civil socety pressure group says in a statement "R2K notes with concern that Jacob Zuma has appointed loyalists to lead the SABC board".

"Why would the president deliberately place the two candidates who are closest to himself and the ANC in the most powerful positions of the SABC board? We are warning the president about the consequence of trying to re-capture the SABC."

"R2K urges the board to take all necessary measures to end the climate of harassment and intimidation of SABC's workers, and to raise the morale of staff."

"The Right2Know Campaign unreservedly supports the SABC staff's rights to engage in a legal strike action."

The trade union Bemawu said Bongumusa Makhathini should resign from the Bongi Ngema-Zuma Foundation's board, and that Febe Potgieter-Gqubule needs to resign from the SABC if she is elected to any ANC position.

Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) said Bongumusa Makhathini must resign immediately from his position as chairperson of the Bongi Ngema-Zuma Foundation or will be seen as compromised.

Parliament's portfolio committee on communications welcomed the appointment of the new SABC board.

"We are looking forward to working together with them in taking the SABC to new heights," said Humphrey Maxegwana, committee chairperson, said in a statement.

The Support Public Broadcasting (SOS Coalition) said in a statement "The excitement at the SABC board being appointed should not cloud the fact that the SABC has been without a board for at least 3 weeks. As such, the president's delayed action must be condemned."

"Febe Potgieter-Gqubule stated in her interviews in parliament that she would leave the SABC board if she were appointed to the ANC NEC in December."

"This means that the new SABC board could potentially be left with yet another leadership vacuum in the coming months. This is an eventuality that doesn't encourage our confidence in the stability of the incoming board," said the SOS Coalition.

Khanyisile Kweyama recommended as new SABC chairperson of the to be appointed interim SABC board.

Khanyisile Kweyama has been recommended in an urgent meeting by parliament's parliament's portfolio committee on communications to become the new SABC chairperson of the to be appointed SABC interim board.

The beleaguered SABC, mired in allegations of corruption, mismanagement and maladministration has been left rudderless for months.

The SABC has been without any SABC board or board members, no permanent CEO and COO for months and has been absolutely gutted after the firing of numerous top executives who are all gone after the sprawling internal management destruction wreaked inside the public broadcaster by the controversial former COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

The respected veteran journalist and former newspaper editor Mathatha Tsedu were recommended as deputy SABC chairperson, while Krish Naidoo, Febe Potgieter-Gqubule and John Mattison were recommended as interim SABC board members.

Krish Naidoo is a former SABC board member. He resigned spectacularly and with dramatic effect in late December 2016 in parliament during parliament's investigation into the shocking maladministration of the SABC and made several damning revelations about the SABC's flouting of corporate governance requirements.

Veteran journalist and editor John Mattison is a former broadcasting regulator councillor and responsible for the SABC's election coverage in 1994.

Khanyisile Kweyama who has a masters degree in management from Wits university, is the former CEO of Business Unity South Africa (Busa) and a former executive director of Anglo American SA, the first woman to hold such position at that company, and a former Telkom board member.

Khanyisile Kweyama also served on the National Planning Commission appointed by the president and served on a provincial group fighting racism in Gauteng, appointed by the Gauteng premier.

What happens now is that the portfolio committee on communication's report, recommending the interim SABC chairperson and interim SABC board members, is sent to the National Assembly.

On Wednesday the report is tabled at the National Assembly, after which it is sent to president Jacob Zuma to basically rubber-stamp and approve the appointments, making it official.