Time running out for South African video consumers to say if they want DStv and Netflix to add and collect SABC TV Licence fees with their payments.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africans have until Monday, 30 November at 16:00 to give their opinion on whether they want the country's laws changed to force pay-TV services like MultiChoice (DStv) and StarTimes (StarSat), as well as streaming services like Netflix SA, Showmax and others to tack on a SABC TV Licence fee on behalf of the struggling South African public broadcaster.

South Africa's department of communications and digital technologies wants to change the existing legislation to force pay-TV operators as well as local and international video streaming services like Netflix to collect SABC TV Licence fees from consumers on behalf of the SABC even though they are private companies and services.

South African consumers will have to pay this SABC TV Licence fee even if they watch Netflix through a smartphone, Showmax on a tablet or stream DStv on a laptop and are not watching any SABC content.

The financially struggling South African public broadcaster that once again suspended its retrenchment process due to political and trade union pressure made a net loss of R511 million for its 2019/2020 financial year and is on track to make a loss in excess of R1.2 billion in the next financial year.

Less than a third of South African TV households that the SABC is aware of as having a SABC TV Licence still bothers to pay it.

The proposal to shift the burden of collecting SABC TV Licence fees on behalf of the SABC is contained in the Draft White Paper on Audio and Audio-visual Content Services Policy Framework: A New Vision for South Africa 2020.

Comments can be emailed to aacs@dtps.gov.za or submitted in writing to: The Acting- Director-General, Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, Block A3, IParioll Office Park, 1166 Park Street, Hatfield, Pretoria, Private Bag X860, Pretoria, 0001.

Phumzile Van Damme, a member of parliament of the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party, in a statement says that the DA is "unequivocally opposed to any efforts that would require any additional payment of TV licence fees. The public has already had to suffer the consequences of the billions in bailouts the SABC has received".

"Given the emergence of streaming services like Netflix, Apple TV+, Showmax, Amazon Prime Video and others, the White Paper broadens the definition of a “broadcasting service” to include online broadcasting services."

"By implication, that would require the payment of a license fee for the viewing any “broadcasting services” which would include streaming services, regardless of the device on which it is viewed."

Phumzile Van Damme says that the South African public should not have to "pay a cent more" to keep the SABC afloat.

"The SABC must find creative ways to self-sustain, and break-even without requiring the public to fork out any more money."

"The DA notes that the SABC has promised to take cognizance of public outcry about the proposed license fee and will make its own submission to the department regarding the proposal."

ALSO READ: SA wants to force a 30% local content quota on streamers like Netflix – here’s why it’s a bad idea

Calls for South Africa's communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams to be fired as she flouts country's national lockdown rules doing dinner and photographing it for the public.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africans on Tuesday called for the country's minister of communications, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, to be fired following her reckless "lets dinner-and-Insta" approach during South Africa's 21-day national lockdown period during which she went to a friend's house to have a meal and had the image shared on social media.

On Sunday Scotland's chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood was fired and asked to resign after she was spotted breaking her own advice to stay at home to help stop the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus and visited her second home.

In New Zealand that country's health minister David Clark was demoted after he was caught out for visiting a beach when he drove his family 20km during that country's national lockdown period.

South Africa's former deputy minister of higher education and training, Mduduzi Manana, posted a picture to Instagram of Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams and others having a meal at his house, saying "It was great to host a former colleague and dear sister cadre Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on her way back from executing critical and essential services required for the effective functioning of our country during the nationwide lockdown."

Once criticism started, he deleted the Instagram post which was already shared widely.

There's been no statement yet from Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams yet through her spokesperson Mish Molakeng.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday said that he had seen the picture and what happened and that he had asked Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams to "come and see him so that we can discuss the impact of visuals like these. We want to instill a clear message about social distancing, that you must stay at home and don't go around on visitations," Cyril Ramaphosa said.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) member of parliament, Phumzile Van Damme, said that "I will be writing to president Cyril Ramaphosa this afternoon about Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams breaking lockdown rules. She is a leader and must set an example. I hope he takes strong actions against her."


UPDATE - Tuesday 7 April 2020 16:15: In a statement Phumzile van Damme says that "the statement by president Cyril Ramaphosa this afternoon indicating that he has summoned communications and digital technologies minister, Stella Nbabeni-Abrahams is simply not good enough". 

"He must set an example as the president of South Africa that lawlessness while our country deals with a global pandemic will not be tolerated, regardless of from whom it comes. He therefore ought to lay a criminal complaint against Ndabeni-Abrahams, a person who he appointed as a Minister and member of his Cabinet. And he must go a further step by removing her from his cabinet."

"President Ramaphosa addressed the nation twice asking South Africans to obey the law while containment strategies for Covid-19 were being implemented. The majority of the people of our country have done so with diligence." 

"Many have lost jobs and incomes while staying at home as he requested. Some have been brutalized by security forces for not obeying the law. He cannot expect that in these circumstances a mere slap on the wrist will suffice. Ndabeni-Abrahams must go!"

The Democratic Alliance political party says that it opposes plans by the South African public broadcaster to increase SABC TV licence fees.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party on Wednesday in a statement said that it is against the plans of the South African public broadcaster that wants to increase SABC TV licence fees.

On Wednesday SABC board members and top executives appeared before parliament's select committee on public enterprise and communications where Yolande van Biljon, the SABC's chief financial officer (COO), revealed that the SABC had drafted a proposal for an increase in SABC TV licence fees which was send to Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, the minister of communications.

Yolande van Biljon told the parliamentary committee that the struggling SABC has less fresh content because the technically insolvent and cash-strapped broadcaster is using money that is supposed to go to content investment to pay staff salaries.

"The DA is opposed to any additional - what would be in essence - taxation of already over-burdened South African taxpayers, as well as those who are impoverished and struggling to put food on the table," said Phumzile Van Dam, the DA's member of parliament for communications, in a statement.

"We call on the public broadcaster to find new revenue streams to stay afloat instead of imposing increases to TV licenses fees. The SABC needs to find innovative measures to strengthen their collection of revenue as poor South Africans will, without doubt, be unlikely to afford increased licence fees."

"The SABC must position itself as a trustworthy and properly managed entity to encourage current TV licence holders to make payments."

"Furthermore, the broadcaster should explore purchasing content that will attract viewers – by doing so doing, they will see an increase in advertising revenue. Advertising makes out the bulk of the SABC's revenue, and an increase in advertising will surely be a boost for the SABC."

"We look forward to feedback regarding funding of the SABC – especially given the fact that the public broadcaster is still reeling from the financial consequences of well-chronicled years of mismanagement, looting and governance failures," said Phumzile van Dam.

"The public should not have to pay for the SABC’s sins through additional TV license fees. We trust that the current SABC management will prove its mettle, by steering the SABC to a profitable position."

'Be fast or I will fire you, I will really fire you': South Africa's former communications minister, Faith Muthambi, faces criminal charges after release of the report of the SABC's Commission of Inquiry into editorial interference and abuse at the public broadcaster.

South Africa's former communications minister, Faith Muthambi, faces criminal charges after the release of the report of the SABC's Commission of Inquiry into editorial interference and abuse at the public broadcaster in which Fath Muthambi's meddling in the editorial management of the SABC was noted.

On Monday the Commission of Inquiry into editorial interference at South Africa's public broadcaster reported that it found that the "spectre of the ANC hovered over the newsroom", that ministerial interference into the newsroom of the SABC took place, and found 'bullying and trauma" and a "work environment crippled with fear, anxiety, resentment and tensions".

Phumzile Van Damme, member of parliament of the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party said that "the DA will be laying criminal charges against Faith Muthambi".

The report of the Commission of Inquiry into interference in the decision-making in the newsroom of the SABC revealed that "from 2012 until 2017, SABC executives took instructions from people who had no authority in their newsrooms, such as former SABC chairperson Ellen Tshabalala, and Faith Muthambi", who insisted her constituency work be covered by news teams.

Phumzile Van Damme says that the "former communications minister Faith Muthambi not only violated the Broadcasting Act but also misled parliament during the SABC inquiry of 2016. This was in direct contravention of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliaments and Provincial Legislatures Act".

Faith Muthambi is alleged to have insulted members of SABC News crews dispatched on her orders to cover her events the Commission found.

When one such SABC News crew arrived at one of the Faith Muthambi-ordered events, she told the "to be fast or I will fire you, I will really fire you". 

"Then she picked on this young lady and told her she looked fat and that she wasn't dressed appropriately. The journalist was wearing a nice shirt and a nice skirt".

Phumzile Van Damme says that during Faith Muthambi's testimony in parliament during the inquiry into the SABC, Faith Muthambi said she had never interfered in editorial decisions

"Given the findings in today’s report strengthens the findings made by Parliamentary Legal Services in August 2017 that she has 'tried to mislead Parliament'," said Phumzile Van Damme.

The report "should serve as a stern warning to the ANC not to engage in political interference at the SABC".

ALSO READ: Commission of inquiry into editorial interference at South Africa's public broadcaster finds 'spectre of the ANC hovered over the newsroom', ministerial interference; 'bullying and trauma' and 'work environment crippled with fear, anxiety, resentment and tensions'.
ALSO READ: After release of Commission of Inquiry's report into SABC editorial meddling the South African National Editor's Forum urges 'new custodians of the SABC newsroom to safeguard' it from future interference. 
ALSO READ: SOS Coalition says Commission of Inquiry's report into SABC editorial meddling doesn't go far enough while former bosses 'Jimmy Matthews and Hlaudi Motsoeneng continue to live as symbols of South Africa's culture of impunity'.

South Africa's parliament dumps 90 applications to serve on the SABC board from mostly young people, applying and looking to do 'internships'.

South Africa's parliament portfolio committee dealing with applications from the public for the several vacant positions for the SABC board has had to dump 90 - from primarily young people - applying for "internships" to serve on the board of the South African public broadcaster.

Besides the 90, parliament received 233 applications - 243 of the overall total submitted during December 2018 - for the 8 SABC board vacancies.

The committee will from next week, Tuesday 26 February, begin the process of shortlisting candidates to be interviewed to fill the vacant SABC board positions.

Parliament's apparently lazy portfolio committee on communications led by chairperson Hlengiwe Mkhize has been criticised for having taken months to start the process to sift and begin interviews with shortlisted candidates for the positions.

Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) has slammed the delay by South Africa's government and parliament's portfolio committee on communications to appoint new SABC board members for the vacancies that have existed for months, as a gross dereliction of duty, a violation of their oath of office, and "acts of treason".

The SABC, commercially insolvent, has once again been adrift rudderless for months, hovering on the brink of complete financial collapse with an unstable and inquorate SABC board, months before 9 May's national election date in an election year.

The SABC board is supposed to have 12 board members including the SABC CEO, COO and CFO, and requires 9 new ones.

Parliament's portfolio committee on communications led by chairperson Hlengiwe Mkhize, lied, saying it would return in early-2019, and then lied again to the South African public saying it would start the process of interviews in mid-January. Neither happened.

Parliament's current term ends on 20 March, leaving a month to complete interviews, chose candidates and send those names for the SABC board to the National Assembly to then send the names to president Cyril Ramaphosa to ceremonially rubberstamp and approve.

Hlengiwe Mkhize blamed parliament staff for moving slowly with the administration and bureaucracy, saying on Tuesday that "it's a due process overseen by the legal department. There are steps. You can't just jump and take over."

Phumzile Van Damme from the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party said it was "a shame and an embarrassment" to blame the secretariat of the parliamentary committee for the false promises and that Hlengiwe Mkhize should take the blame.

Parliament's portfolio committee failing on its 2018-promise to begin the process of filling 8 vacancies on the SABC board by mid-January, says Democratic Alliance.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party's member of parliament, Phumzile Van Damme, on Sunday said that despite an undertaking by parliament's portfolio committee of communications in 2018 that the process of filling the 8 SABC board vacancies would begin in early January 2019, this has not happened.

The embattled and commercially insolvent South African public broadcaster currently sits with an inquorate SABC board unable to sign off on any decisions after the latest spate of resignations in late-2018 rocked the beleaguered broadcaster.

This comes ahead of a national election year with high-ranking SABC insiders who last week reportedly said that the SABC doesn't have money to cover the millions of rands needed to cover the 2019 general elections.

The urgent SABC board crisis was supposed to get special attention from parliament's portfolio committee on communications early in 2019 with possible SABC board replacements that were to have been chosen before the end of January 2019 but so far nothing has been done.

"I wrote to Dr Hlengiwe Mkhize, chairperson of the committee, twice, first on 13 January and again on 15 January 2019 requesting an update on the dates set for beginning the process of filling the vacancies and have received no response from the chairperson or the members of the ANC serving on the committee," says Phumzile Van Damme.

"In November 2018, given the urgency of filling the vacancies on the SABC board, the committee resolved that the process of filling the vacancies would begin in mid-January with shortlisting of candidates and interviews in late-January."

"Currently, the SABC board is inquorate, a high-risk position for the public broadcaster to be in as it faces staff retrenchment and a cashflow crisis."

"It should be all hands on deck, with a full SABC board with the best minds working to steer the SABC to calm waters. It is clear that the filling of 8 vacancies on the SABC board is not a matter of priority for the ANC, as it has claimed," says Phumzile Van Damme in her statement.

"The Democratic Alliance stands firmly against the appointment of an interim SABC board. The process for the appointment of an interim SABC board is not as rigorous and open as it is for a permanent SABC board, political parties simply bringing names forward and an interim SABC board is constituted."

"Going into an election, this would allow the ANC space to insert individuals onto the SABC board who would be at the beck-and-call of Luthuli House. The DA wants an independent SABC board, interviewed and appointed in a process fully open to the public, and candidates' qualifications, independence and experience thoroughly assessed."

"The SABC board shortlisting, interviewing and approval by the National Assembly of a permanent SABC board must happen as a matter of high urgency, and the DA will not rest until this is done," says Phumzile Van Damme.

SABC personnel boss, Jonathan Thekiso, threatens SABC staffers before Friday's public protest action, saying the SABC will take 'disciplinary action' against workers who picket during their lunch break.

In a unintentionally hilarious inside memo widely doing the rounds in South Africa's TV industry and causing a lot of laughs, the personnel boss of the South African public broadcaster, Jonathan Thekiso, is warning SABC staffers that the SABC will take "disciplinary action" against anyone who takes part in Friday's planned protest action during their lunch break.

The apparently confused Jonathan Thekiso appears to be under the impression that a company or the South African public broadcaster can tell workers what they are allowed and not allowed to do during their lunch hour away from their desks: like if they're allowed to use the toilet, maybe go to Clicks, or buy a KFC Streetwise 5 - or not.

The beleaguered SABC plans to fire up to 981 of its 3 376 full-time staffers - a third of its total workforce, and will effectively fire 1 200 or half of its 2 400 freelance workers who will be gone by February 2019 in a brutal and massive planned retrenchment process that has SABC staffers up in arms.

Public protest action kicked off yesterday when SABC staffers, including basically all SABC News (DStv 404) on-air talent wore black in "mourning" of the highly criticised retrenchment plan.

Up next is Friday's public picketing at the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters in Johannesburg and at the SABC's regional offices countrywide. According to the Bemawu and CWU trade unions, this weekday picketing during the lunch hour will continue for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile momentum is building around yet another SABC strike, similar to the one in November 2017.

Before Friday's planned public protest and lunch hour picketing, Jonathan Thekiso, the SABC's head of human resources, in an internal SABC memo is telling SABC staffers that they are not allowed to take part in public picketing action during their lunch.

"The SABC wishes to reiterate that the planned 'total shutdown and or so-called peaceful demonstration' during lunchtime on Friday, 9 November 2018 is not in compliance with legislation ... and employees participating in such action will be subjected to disciplinary action," says Jonathan Thekiso.

No "shutdown" of the SABC is planned by SABC staffers on Friday, although Jonathan Thekiso apparently listened to the rumour-mill that's in overdrive inside SABC corridors as fear and anger over the draconian retrenchment plan are spreading.

Oddly, the SABC as the South African public broadcaster is supposed to support freedom of speech, freedom of self-expression, and to promote people voicing their opinions, but is once again trying to censor people and to clamp down on South Africans' basic rights.

Phumzile Van Damme, a member of parliament of the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party, in a statement on Thursday said that "it is not the SABC's business what its staff do during their lunchtime, and it is well within their rights to engage in protest".

"We have been informed by staff that no 'total shutdown' is planned, and it was a falsehood spread by the SABC that one was planned."

"The SABC's response to the protest is indicative of an authoritarian creep in an SABC that is bungling its retrenchment process."

"We maintain that a full-scale skill and salary audit should have been conducted to prevent arbitrary job losses at the public broadcaster," says Phumzile Van Damme.

"The SABC board and management are due to appear before the communications committee next week Tuesday and the DA will not hesitate to take on the SABC for its insensitive, arrogant and poor management of its retrenchment process."

Political analyst Dumisani Hlophe's appointment as SABC political editor slammed as 'a step backwards' for the South African public broadcaster over his bias towards the media and political parties.

The appointment of the political analyst Dumisani Hlophe, who isn't a journalist, as the SABC's new political editor at SABC News is being criticised as a step backwards for the South African public broadcaster.

Dumisani Hlophe is being slammed as "bad news" for the SABC by the Democratic Alliance political party over his media bias, his patriarchal comments and his comments on photos of half-naked women.

"The SABC's decision to appoint Dumisani Hlophe as political editor is deeply puzzling and worrying," says Phumzile Van Damme, the DA member of parliament and the party's shadow minister of communications, about the appointment the SABC announced on late Friday afternoon.

Dumisani Hlophe will take over as SABC political editor from Monday 3 September. The caustic and so-called Hlaudi Motsoeneng enforcer, Sophie Mokoena, was acting SABC political editor until she quit in July.

Dumisani Hlophe previously made appearances as political analyst on SABC News (DStv 404), eNCA (DStv 403) and the now shuttered Gupta-news" channel ANN7 (DStv 405) (rebranded Afro Worldview).

"Dumisani Hlophe is not a practising journalist, his only experience with broadcasting is as a 'political analyst' on the SABC with 'commentary' often odd and thumb-sucked," says the DA in a statement.

"There are many talented practicing journalists the SABC could have chosen from, who would have been a far better choice. Dumisani Hlophe does not inspire confidence at all. He is bad news".

According to Dumisani Hlophe's Twitter account, he appears to be a patriarch with tweets proclaiming men as heads of the family and commenting on pgotos of half-naked women, says the political party, noting that Dumisani Hlophe has shown "special loathing for the Democratic Alliance.

Dumisani Hlophe has tweeted things like:

 "The irony is: whilst @MYANC is keen to demilitarize and weaken the Left; it always leaves the Right to strengthen itself. It castrated @_cosatu;  @SACP1921 and now targets @EFFSouthAfrica nut it has no plan to weaken the right wing agenda led by @Our_DA."

"Where are the DA Headquarters? I am in Cape Town and I want to march there and demand the reintegration of Cape Town into South Africa."

"Maimane to stand for DA's parliamentary leader. Another darkie Zille project. Just where society will see a fake de racialised DA."

"The media dubs criticism of Thuli Madonsela as an attack on the Public Protector - interesting indeed. I think she is soft on the DA."


Dumisani Hlophe has also attacked South Africa's media:

"@pinkykhoabane in the quest to be ANC critic, the media overlapped to be an addition to ANC opposition. Hence, they contain DA journalists."

"The mainstream liberal media is a key player in South Africa’s politics. It is not an independent observer."

"No Bruce. That’s a mere bourgeoisie spin. Absolute liberal self-serving propaganda. The fact is: this shows a clear collusion between senior politicians in public office and business sector in advancing their mutual interests."


The Democratic Alliance says "we truly hope Dumisani Hlophe will prove our misgivings about him wrong and fulfill the SABC's mandate to be impartial, independent and provide a reasonable, balanced opportunity for the public to receive a variety of points of view on matters of public concern, especially during an election year."

"His appointment is a step backwards for the SABC, and is discouraging given the excellent appointments it has made of late."

The SABC has so far spend a shocking R22 million on the legal costs of its former COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, and it may rise further.

The SABC has spent a whopping R22 million and counting on the legal costs of the South African public broadcaster's famously matricless former chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng - more than the R15 million forked out on legal costs by the former president Jacob Zuma.

A reply from the former minister of communications, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane to the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party's member of parliament, Phumzile Van Damme, states that the SABC has paid millions of rand since 2013 in legal fees for Hlaudi Motsoeneng and that it might even increase "as other matters are ongoing".

Some of the legal fees include:
- SABC News anchor Vuyo Mvoko: R1 186 184
- Former SABC TV boss Verona Duwarkah: R505 985
- Helen Suzman Foundation: R1 659 490
- Democratic Alliance: R5 370 828
- Various SABC board matters: R4 990 985

"This R22 million by far exceeds the R15 million taxpayers have had to fork out on former president Jacob Zuma's legal fees," says Phumzile Van Damme.

"Just like the other litigious delinquent, Jacob Zuma, Hlaudi Motsoeneng must pay back this money to the public purse. The public should not have to pay for this one man wrecking ball's legal fees."

"In addition to the R21 million the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is pursuing in Hlaudi Motsoeneng's debt to the SABC, this R22 million must be added, making what he owes R43 million. Every single cent must be recovered from him," says Phumzile Van Damme.

"Hlaudi Motsoeneng left a trial of destruction in his wake. He flouted policy processes, demoralised, victimised and purged staff; brought the SABC's newsroom into disrepute and left the public broadcaster on the brink of collapse."

"The DA calls on the SABC to personally hold Hlaudi Motsoeneng responsible for this excessive amount of money, that can be much better spent on paying off its debts, investing in content development, finding new talent, informing and educating the public, and restoring the SABC's image as a credible and reliable news source," says Phumzile Van Damme.

Democratic Alliance reveals MultiChoice is refusing to release its full internal report on the controversial 'Gupta news' ANN7 channel despite PAIA application; MultiChoice says the DA has not shown that it has a right to access the report under that Act.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party says Naspers' satellite pay-TV business, MultiChoice has this month refused the DA's request for the full report on its payments to the controversial "Gupta News" ANN7 (DStv 405) channel and that MultiChoice says it doesn't recognise "public interest as a right.

MultiChoice told TVwithThinus in response to a media enquiry asking about the Democratic Alliance's statement, that the DA's comments are misleading.

It has also come to light that the meeting of the portfolio committee on communications scheduled in parliament for this week that was supposed to be attended by MultiChoice, ANN7 and the broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), has been postponed.

Humphrey Maxegwana, chairperson of parliament's portfolio committee on communications, said that the meeting to hear from MultiChoice, ANN7 and Icasa what is going on, had been postponed without giving any reason as to why this week's meeting was abruptly cancelled.

Phumzile Van Damme, a Democratic Alliance member of parliament (MP) on Wednesday said that MultiChoice has refused the DA's request for the full report on its payments to ANN7 allegedly to influence government policy on digital terrestrial television (DTT) migration in its favour.

"MultiChoice states that it is under no legal obligation to make the report public, and furthermore does not recognise 'public interest' as a recognised right," said Phumzile Van Damme.

"Last month the DA submitted an application to MultiChoice in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) for the full report compiled by its Audit and Risk Committee, to be made public, following MultiChoice's internal investigation into payments to the Gupta-linked ANN7.

"The press conference in January announcing its findings was scant on detail, vaguely admitting 'mistakes were made', and holding no-one accountable," said Phumzile Van Damme.

"No information was provided for the reasons for the payments to ANN7 first at R25 million, increased to R50 million and then R141 million."

"The DA believes that the public needs to know the full truth about the dealings between MultiChoice, ANN7 and indeed the SABC, and whether MultiChoice, a private company, engaged in 'policy capture' by paying inducements to influence government policy in its favour."

The matter is currently before Icasa's Complaints and Compliance Committee.

MultiChoice told TVwithThinus that "The DA's comments in regards to the PAIA application are misleading".

"MultiChoice has declined to provide access to documentation requested by the DA under PAIA. It has done so because the DA has not shown that it has a right to access the report under that Act. The documentation has also been refused on various other grounds, including that the documentation also contains protected commercial information and is legally privileged."

MultiChoice says the Democratic Alliance's application "is without merit".

Meanwhile Phumzile Van Damme also revealed that MultiChoice's refusal to make its full interla report into ANN7 public, coincides with the cancellation of a scheduled meeting in parliament this week that was to be attended by MultiChoice and ANN7 executives, as well as Icasa.

"When requesting the reason for the cancellation of the meeting, my colleague Veronica van Dyk, was told by the chairperson of the committee, Humphrey Maxegwana, that changes were made to the programme and the meeting would be rescheduled in the near future," said Phumzile Van Damme.

"The Democratic Alliance objected to this, as all parties in the committee, including the ABC, has agreed that the matter relating to MultiChoice was urgent, and needed to be dealt with as a priority. A meeting where a parliamentary inquiry, as ordered by the Speaker's office in August 2017, into Faith Muthambi's role in State Capture was due to be discussed, also mysteriously disappeared from the committee's programme."

"It therefore seems that all Gupta-related meetings are being kicked for touch and delayed in perpetuity as is sometimes teh case when dealing with uncomfortable matters at the communications committee. This has no doubt been exacerbated by reports today revealing the direct involvement of former president Jacob Zuma in the setting up of ANN7," said Phumzile Van Damme.

"The Democratic Alliance will continue to be relentless in its push for both meetings to be held, and inquiries conducted. Jacob Zuma must also be subpoenaed to appear before parliament to explain his role in the saga".

"The DA will not rest until the full truth is revealed about both policy and State Capture involving the department of communications, its entities, and the industry it regulates".

With less than a third of South Africans paying their TV licences, the struggling SABC is owed more than R25.5 billion in unpaid SABC TV licence fees.

The struggling South African public broadcaster is owed a daunting R25.5 billion in unpaid SABC TV licence fees over just the past 3 years, has been revealed in South Africa's parliament in a written reply by the country's minister of communications.

The SABC remains mired in financial trouble and is owed a whopping R25 588 801 443 by people who have SABC TV licences but who refuse to pay their annual fees.

South Africa's latest minister of communications - the 10th minister of communications in 10 years, Nomvula Mokonyane, made a written reply to Phumzile Van Damme, the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party's member of parliament who wanted to know what the outstanding amount is that the SABC is due in SABC TV licence fees, what amount of money the SABC wrote off in unpaid debt and what the SABC's total number of SABC TV licence holders are.

Nomvula Mokonyane revealed that the SABC is owed a staggering R25 588 801 443 by April 2017 and that the SABC wrote off a massive R4.5 billion due to "invalid" accounts in the 2016/2017 financial year.

Shockingly, less than a third of people with SABC TV licences are bothering to pay their annual fees.

By April 2017 the SABC had just over 9 million SABC TV licence holders, although the SABC TV licence fees of just 2.6 million have been paid in full by that time.

Special Investigating Unit (SIU) issues a summons against SABC's former controversial COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, liable to pay back a staggering R21 million to the public broadcaster.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has issued a summons against the former controversial and famously matricless SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng for more than R21 million that he owes the public broadcaster and has to pay back, says the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party's member of parliament, Phumzile Van Damme.

The R21 million includes the staggering R11.4 million bonus - called a "success fee" - the SABC paid Hlaudi Motsoeneng and is MultiChoice money that was paid to him through the SABC for the controversial SABC and DStv channels deal to provide SABC Encore and SABC News to MultiChoice's satellite pay-TV platform.

The R21 million also includes another R10.5 million payable to the SABC related to irregular SABC appointments, as well as the firing of staff.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng caused horrific damage at the SABC on all levels during his executive tenure, plunging the SABC into a financial crisis as credibility, staff morale, governance, pay control, commissioning and management on every level at the SABC over the past 3 years took a massive blow.

"It is to be welcomed that action against Hlaudi Motsoeneng continues," says Phumzile Van Damme.

"It cannot be that individuals like Hlaudi Motsoeneng loot public institutions, resign or are dismissed and there is no further action. All stolen money must be returned to the public purse. We therefore welcome the SIU’s action in this regard."

Phumzile Van Damme says that the SIU is investigating 8 contracts that were identified as "dodgy" during the SABC ad-hoc inquiry, including the "questionable R460 million contract with MultiChoice".

"Hlaudi Motsoeneng is however not the only person implicated in the SABC ad hoc inquiry report. Compromised individuals such as James Aguma [former SABC acting CEO] and especially former minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, must also be prosecuted for any wrongdoing".

The SIU will hand over the interim presidential report on its investigations into these dodgy SABC and MultiChoice contracts to the Office of the President on 31 May.

Broadcasting regulator Icasa confirms it will now investigate allegations of possible kickbacks and corruption over MultiChoice payments to ANN7 and the SABC and the possible influence on SA's digital terrestrial television encryption policy.

South Africa's broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), has confirmed that it will be launching a wide-ranging investigation into allegations of kickbacks and possible corruption into suspicious MultiChoice payments made to the SABC and to the controversial and until recently Gupta-owned ANN7 (DStv 405) channel.

Icasa has referred the complaint to its Compliance and Consumer Affairs division.

At issue is whether Naspers' pay-TV division illegally influenced the South African government's policy on encryption of set-top boxes (STBs) for the stalled digital migration process from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT), by paying the SABC and ANN7 to carry their channels, and through them, get them to apply pressure on the government.

Explosive, leaked meeting transcripts between MultiChoice and the South African public broadcaster the SABC, as well as #GuptaLeaks contracts between MultiChoice and the controversial ANN7 D(Stv 405) channel showing massive payments from DStv to the Guptas, have raised multiple serious questions over corporate impropriety.

MultiChoice told the SABC it would pay the broadcaster R100 million for the SABC News channel but but only on the strict must-have contract clause condition that the SABC must support MultiChoice's stance on conditional access (CA) for digital television.

MultiChoice also dramatically upped its payments from R50 million per year to R100 million per year and then R141 million per year, as well as a questionable, additional R25 million payment to the Guptas for the low-rated, bad quality, mistake-filled and often criticised ANN7.

MultiChoice is paying ANN7 more despite its barely there low ratings than eNCA (DStv 403) that has more than 50% of the overall TV news audience share.

It's all created the perception that MultiChoice has paid kickbacks to both the SABC and ANN7 to use its influence to get set-top box (STB) encryption dropped from government-subsidised STBs in the switch to digital terrestrial television (DTT).

MultiChoice and Naspers have denied the kickbacks allegations and the MultiChoice board announced that MultiChoice is starting an internal investigation of itself.

"Icasa has confirmed that it will be conducting an investigation into MultiChoice," says Phumzile Van Damme, the Democratic Alliance's shadow minister of communications and a member of parliament in a statement.

Phumzile Van Damme's statement comes after the political party publicly called out Icasa over its failure to start a wide-ranging investigation into the shocking MultiChoice allegations 8 weeks after the scandal broke. 

"The DA is pleased that Icasa has agreed that the payments require investigation. South Africa deserves to know whether the payments were indeed above board‚ as MultiChoice has maintained‚" says Phumzile Van Damme.

"While companies like MultiChoice should be allowed the space to do business and create much-needed employment‚ their conduct must at all times be within the bounds of the law‚ in line with business ethics and in an environment where competition was not stifled."

"There is no issue with companies lobbying for policy positions through debate‚ but a situation where policy is bought cannot be allowed. It is tantamount to policy capture."

Why has South Africa's broadcasting regulator, Icasa, after 8 weeks done nothing yet to start an investigation into MultiChoice's payments to ANN7, asks South Africa's Democratic Alliance political party.

South Africa's Democratic Alliance (DA) political party wants to know why South Africa's broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has not done anything after 8 weeks to investigate the payments of the pay-TV company MultiChoice to the controversial ANN7 TV channel on DStv.

The Democratic Alliance says Icasa has failed to act promptly and to take serious action against MultiChoice against allegations of unethical conduct.

A widening scandal engulfed MultiChoice in November 2017 when shocking emails as part of the so-called #GuptaLeaks were made public, showing how MultiChoice had been paying ANN7 millions more than a TV news channel like eNCA (DStv 403), although eNCA has a lot more viewers.

MultiChoice itself has now being accused of corruption and collusion with the Guptas and tainted politicians like Faith Muthambi, by a growing chorus of the public and political parties.

The Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political parties called for a public parliamentary inquiry into MultiChoice, its dealings and contracts with the Guptas over ANN7, and the former minister of communications, Faith Muthambi.

In the shocking #GuptaLeaks, News24 revealed the emails showing how MultiChoice made a dubious R25 million payment to the Guptas for its low-rated, biased and mistake-filled channel, in addition to upping the money MultiChoice pays to ANN7 from R50 million to a whopping R141 million per year.

The emails revealed that MultiChoice is paying ANN7 R141.38 million as part of its contract for the channel, a channel that stands accused of fostering racial discord, biased and unbalanced coverage and targeting politicians who are against president Jacob Zuma.

According to a 4th channel amendment agreement signed by Glen Marques in September 2015, MultiChoice upped its payment from R50 million to R100 million to a staggering R141 380 000 per year although ANN7 is the least watched of the three local TV news channels with SABC News and eNCA as rivals.

"It has been 8 weeks since the DA submitted a request to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) for an investigation into MultiChoice’s payments to ANN7 and the SABC, allegedly in exchange for influence of government policy in its favour," says Phumzile Van Damme, the DA's shadow minister of communications and a member of parliament.

"It is ICASA’s duty, to take this matter up in the public interest, and in particular, on behalf of those South Africans who part with their hard-earned money every month for DStv subscription fees. They deserve to know whether their money was used by MultiChoice to grease the palms of the Gupta family."

"Last year, the Democratic Alliance revealed SABC board minutes dated 6 June 2013, which suggests that MultiChoice sought to pay the SABC R100 million for its 24-hour news channel in exchange for the SABC’s political influence over digital migration. This also supports allegations in the media, that MultiChoice had paid Gupta-owned ANN7 millions in exchange for similar influence over government’s position on set-top boxes," says Phumzile Van Damme.

"The meeting was attended by the then interim SABC board, SABC executives and then MultiChoice CEO, Imtiaz Patel. At the meeting, Imtiaz Patel stated that “we would not normally pay for a news channel” but that he would be able to convince the MultiChoice board members on the condition the SABC exert their influence over former communications minister, Faith Muthambi."

"It was for this reason the DA wrote to Icasa to request for an inquiry into these allegations, and furthermore requested that MultiChoice contracts with the SABC and ANN7 be made public."

"Although ICASA publicly acknowledged receiving our request, we are yet to receive any correspondence. Even with the magnitude of these allegations, Icasa has failed to act promptly and take serious action against MultiChoice for these allegations of unethical conduct."

Phumzile Van Damme says Icasa "has the responsibility to probe these allegations without further delay".

MultiChoice now caught in lies as the Naspers and MultiChoice scandal around its undue influence of South Africa's digital TV migration process keeps growing.

MultiChoice is now caught in lies as Naspers and MultiChoice's scandal keeps growing about its alleged involvement undue influence on the SABC to chance the government's decisions on set-top boxes (STBs) and unencrypted access for digital terrestrial television (DTT).

MultiChoice and Naspers is now being linked to serious allegations of corruption and State Capture through links and exorbitant amounts of money paid to the controversial Gupta family, the disgraced former minister of communications Faith Muthambi, the criticised ANN7 (DStv 405) channel, and the SABC.

MultiChoice has been asked in a media enquiry if it will be doing any investigation, and if any such investigation would be internal or external but MultiChoice has not given any clear answer to the question.

What is becoming clear is more and more apparent lies from MultiChoice.

In shocking new #GuptaLeaks, last week dropped a bombshell email trove, showing how MultiChoice made a dubious R25 million payment to the Guptas for its low-rated, biased and mistake-filled trash channel, in addition to upping the money MultiChoice pays to ANN7 from R50 million to a whopping R141 million per year.

The emails revealed that MultiChoice is paying ANN7 R141.38 million as part of its contract for the channel, a channel that stands accused of fostering racial discord, biased and unbalanced coverage and targeting politicians who are against president Jacob Zuma.

According to a 4th channel amendment agreement signed by Glen Marques in September 2015, MultiChoice upped its payment from R50 million to R100 million to a staggering R141 380 000 per year although ANN7 is the least watched of the three local TV news channels with SABC News and eNCA as rivals.

MultiChoice in response to a media enquiry said that "the fee structure for the ANN7 contract is in line with the costs of developing and running such a channel, and ANN7 is definitely not the highest-paid local news channel on the DStv platform".

"The R25 million fee is also not unusual. In this case, it was a pro rata payment in terms of an amendment agreement."

"The fee structure for the ANN7 contract is in line with the costs of developing and running such a channel, and ANN7 is definitely not the highest-paid local news channel on the DStv platform."

So MultiChoice said paying this massive amount of money is "not unusual" as far as a TV news channel is concerned.

Yesterday the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party's Phumzile Van Damme revealed an explosive transcript of a 6 June 2013 meeting between MultiChoice's then CEO Imtiaz Patel and chairperson Nolo Letele with the SABC board and executives. 

"We would not normally pay for a news channel. Okay. We don't," Imtiaz Patel said in the meeting according to the transcript.

"There is a unique relationship with e.tv… But, besides that we don't pay for any other news channel, anyway, okay. So we wouldn't normally pay you for a news channel."

MultiChoice either lied then, or MultiChoice lied now and it doesn't look good for the pay-TV operator who has so far ignored calls from the public and political parties for an investigation into allegations of collusion, corruption, and undue influence in South Africa's digital TV migration process.

Democratic Alliance reveals explosive transcript of 'clandestine' SABC meeting where then MultiChoice CEO Imtiaz Patel allegedly says DStv would pay SABC to support change to the government's digital TV in favour of MultiChoice.

The Democratic Alliance's member of parliament Phumzile Van Damme has revealed an explosive transcript of what it calls a "clandestine" SABC meeting on 6 June 2013 - suggesting that the pay-TV operator MultiChoice sought to pay the SABC R100 million for its 24-hour SABC News (DStv 404) channel in exchange for the SABC's influence to change South Africa's digital terrestrial TV process in favour of MultiChoice.

Phumzile Van Damme says the minutes form part of hundreds of documents provided by the SABC in December 2016 to the ad hoc committee on the SABC inquiry.

According to the DA, the transcript of the SABC meeting support allegations in media reports last week that MultiChoice paid the controversial Gupta family millions of rand for its highly-criticised ANN7 (DStv 405) channel on DStv, in exchange for similar influence over the government's position on set-top boxes (STBs).

The release of the meeting's transcript awkwardly comes on the day that Naspers, MultiChoice's parent company, is releasing its interim results, with Naspers chairperson Koos Bekker who has not yet come out publicly to announce any possible investigation by Naspers into the flurry of allegations.

MultiChoice is the latest company to be caught up in the messy dealings of the now-notorious Gupta family embroiled in allegations of State Capture in South Africa.

According to the DA political party, the SABC minutes reveal a "clandestine" meeting attended by the former SABC board members and executives, including the nowdisgraced Ellen Tshabalala, the controversial and shamed Hlaudi Motsoeneng, Lulama Mokhobo who quit as SABC CEO, and Jimi Matthews who eventually quit as acting SABC CEO, with the then CEO of MultiChoice, Imtiaz Patel.

Imtiaz Patel is at pains during the meeting to explain that MultiChoice doesn't ordinarily pay TV stations for their news channels to be carried on DStv, but that he would be able to convice the MultiChoice board to pay for the SABC's SABC News channel, if a set of "deal breaker conditions" in MultiChoice's favour were met.

During the meeting Imtiaz Patel tells the SABC:

“We would not normally pay for a news channel. Okay. We don’t. There’s a unique relationship with e.tv that everybody espouses etc. It’s got unique conditions. They’re supposed to supply us with many more channels and it’s quite tricky at this point in time. But, besides that we don’t pay for any other news channel, anyway, Okay.”

Imtiaz Patel goes on to say:

“…we need to justify to our Board to say why would we pay you R100 million a year which is a lot of money. Okay. It’s after tax money. To make R100m net you have to make R150m or R200m, R300m in turnover. We are looking for the excuse and the excuse for us is to be able to justify to our Board that you are giving us something in return. 

What are you giving us in return for the R100m? We’re saying you giving us a news channel, you’re giving us a general entertainment channel from your archives, your old, you know. We are less focused on the core elements of it being new content. And we’ve been sort of quite open about it with Lulama, saying even if it’s old stock. 

And thirdly, we are saying we also need to justify this problem of conditional access [unencrypted set-top boxes] is a big problem. And in order to justify that we’re saying in addition to that, your additional channels will be available on our platform.”

Imtiaz Patel also says:

So, in addition to the R100m in cash, you will be getting a lot of advertising revenue, probably the equivalent, even more, I don’t know, I don’t know the details, I don’t know to what extent, you know, given that kind of base, how much you can monetise it. 

In return, we can justify to our Board that, we are paying this extraordinary sum of money but we are getting something for it. That was the simple logic that we applied in our own minds. So I’m giving you a sense and therefore I’m hoping that if we can co-create a solution, we are also happy to co-create a solution. 

We are not coming here saying this is, you know, this is the be all and end all, you know. But I must say though, Lulama, that this is the very important point for us. It’s a deal breaker point, I’ll be honest. And I have re-iterated it. I have said this to you before. 


The DA in a statement about the meeting's transcript says that "the implications of MultiChoice paying kickbacks in order to not solidify its dominance in the pay-TV sector, but also secure influence over government policy in its favour, are serious".

"It speaks to a company willing to stop at nothing, including paying kickbacks to the Gupta family, thus supporting State Capture, in order to get its way".

The DA in its statement says that "while companies should be allowed the space to conduct business in a free market system, there must be adherence to business ethics and the law."

"This matter, and in particular the payments, now require thorough investigation by the South African broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa). The DA has written to Icasa requesting an investigation," says the party.

"The DA had hoped that following media reports about ANN7 last week, MultiChoice would take the opportunity to play open cards by revealing all."

"It refused to do so. It is now left to Icasa to reveal the truth."

MultiChoice in response to a media enquiry from TVwithThinus seeking comment from the company after the Democratic Alliance meeting and transcript release, says: "“This was not a clandestine meeting. No kickbacks were paid. This was part of a negotiation meeting with the SABC. The final decision on this proposal lay with the SABC board".

The SABC has also been approached for comment about the DA party's statement and the transcript of the SABC meeting, and the public broadcaster's reaction will be added here when received.


Other fascinating titbits from the transcript reveals:

- According to the transcript, Lulama Mokhobo is clearly on such friendly terms that she uses the nickname "Imi" for Imtiaz Patel in the meeting, instead of his full name.

- Nolo Letele, MultiChoice South Africa chairperson, also attended the meeting.

- The then SABC chairperson Ellen Tshabalala tells MultiChoice: "Since you have presented this condition [unencrypted access], if you can just give a day for us to bounce it to the minister of communications, because we have an unclear position on the matter':

- Then MultiChoice CEO Imtiaz Patel reveals that MultiChoice and the SABC previously wanted to do an agreement in terms of Olympic Games broadcast coverage: "'Unfortunately your previous board, its easy to ... we can rubbish them now, they’re gone. But they didn't sign the agreement unfortunately".

- The then SABC CEO Lulama Mokhobo is clearly hungering after the premium type pay-TV channel content for the SABC that is available to DStv's pay-TV subscribers. 

She tells Imtiaz Patel: "It will be good for us to get PBS [public broadcasting system] type content, something like the History Channel, Discovery Channel - those kinds of channels, the ones that really talk to us". 

- Jimi Matthews to MultiChoice deadpans on getting the SABC News channel up and running: "I engage with the bureaucracy of this place [SABC]'.

The then SABC CEO Lulama Mokhobo then responds: "Oh, Jimmy."

- The then SABC chairperson Ellen Tshabalala: "I want to request that we keep this matter confidential" and says: "We know how print media reacts to this kind of thing".

Minute of the Meeting Between the SABC MultiChoice 6 June 2013 by Thinus on Scribd

Democratic Alliance party calls for parliamentary inquiry into MultiChoice, ANN7 and Faith Muthambi; wants MultiChoice to publicly release its Gupta-TV contracts and dealings.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party is calling on MultiChoice to publicly release its Gupta contract for the controversial ANN7 (DStv 405) channel that DStv subscribers are paying R141.38 million per year for, and wants a public parliamentary inquiry to be held about the contract, MultiChoice's questionable payments of millions, and the involvement of the former minister of communications, Faith Muthambi.

The DA political party's call for a parliamentary inquiry into MultiChoice is similar to the call by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party also asking for  a parliamentary inquiry into MultiChoice's allegedly "corrupt" and "unethical" dealings with the controversial Gupta family and its highly-criticised ANN7 channel.

The calls for a parliamentary inquiry comes after fresh #GuptaLeaks revelations of the hundreds of millions of rand MultiChoice has been paying the controversial Gupta family who are linked to State Capture in South Africa.

"The DA calls on MultiChoice to publicly release the full contracts it entered into with the Gupta-owed TV station, ANN7, as well as the record of the prior negotiations," says Phumzile Van Damme, Democratic Alliance member of parliament.

"If there is indeed nothing untoward about the nature of its dealings with the Gupta family, MultiChoice will have no issue publishing the requested documents for public scrutiny."

"Should it fail to do so within 48 hours, the DA will request that the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) force it to do so."

"In terms of Faith Muthambi's unsurprising involvement, the DA will write to the chairperson of parliament's communications committee, Humphrey Maxegwana, requesting that the now overdue inquiry into state capture, as was requested of the committee by the deputy speaker of parliament, Lechesa Tsenoli, be scheduled as the first item on the committee's agenda in 2018."

Phumzile Van Damme says "the DA looks forward to MultiChoice's feedback and questioning of Faith Muthambi during the inquiry."

"This time she cannot be allowed to escape without being held accountable, if wrongdoing is found."

Rachel Kalidass quits SABC board, says they want to force through corruption-linked Alan Mukoki as CEO; says SABC created a 'cleaning up committee' to deal with 'bad publicity' of his appointment.

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".

On Thursday afternoon the SABC scrambled to arrange a SABC board press conference at short notice for 17:30.

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."