Former SABC CEO, Solly Mokoetle, missing after mysterious late-night meeting; disappeared in his payamas on Friday night from his Durban home.

Solly Mokoetle (59), a former SABC CEO and currently the head of South Africa's digital terrestrial television (DTT) programme, is missing after he mysteriously disappeared on Friday night.

Solly Mokoetle who's full name is Michael Solly Mokoetle, was the SABC CEO until he was suspended and resigned from the public broadcaster like numerous SABC CEO's before him.

Until his disappearance on Friday night in his payamas, Solly Mokoetle has been the department of communications' head of the DTT programme, supposed to oversee and implement the South African TV industry's long-delayed switch from analogue to digital television, a process known as digital migration.

In a statement the minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, says she has been in contact with Solly Mokoetle's family after he mysteriously went missing this past Friday.

"Since his disappearance on Friday 17 June the department has been in touch with his family in an effort to assist with attempts to locate him".

"As the ministry of communications we are concerned about his welfare. We call upon anyone who may have seen him recently or know about his whereabouts to contact the family or the police," says Faith Muthambi.

According to Solly Mokoetle's wife Zola Mthuli, Solly Mokoetle has not been seen anywhere the past 4 days. His cellphone, wallet and all his belongings are in the house.

Solly Mokoetle went to the gate of his house in Hillhead Drive on Friday night at 22:30 in Mount Edgecombe, Umhlanga in Durban in his payamas to meet someone at the gate.

Solly Mokoetle never returned to the house and by 01:00 on Sunday morning Zola Mthuli realised something must be wrong and reported a missing person's case.

SABC pays out R42,6 million in golden handshakes the past 6 years to get rid of executives; enough for 26 415 annual SABC TV licence renewals.

The SABC has paid out R42,6 million in golden handshakes over the past 6 years to executives leaving the embattled South African public broadcaster - enough for 26 415 annual SABC TV licence renewals.

The country's public broadcaster has made it rain to the tune of R42,6 million in golden handshakes for executives leaving the SABC over the past 6 years, the minister of communications Faith Muthambi has revealed in parliament in reply to a question from the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Former SABC CEO Dali Mpofu was the biggest money getter - receiving a whopping severance pay-out totalling R6,7 million as well as an additional R4,4 million in a restraint of trade payment and an additional R2,1 million in legal fees, bringing the total to a massive R13,2 million golden handshake payout.

The former SABC CEO Lulama Mokhobo who abruptly quit without giving reasons less than a year (11 months) after taking over as the top executive at the beleaguered broadcaster was paid out a massive R5,6 million after not finishing her 5 year contract. It included a R4,2 million agreed separation payment and a R1,4 million restraint of trade payment.

Other SABC executives who got millions of rands from the public broadcaster to go away was the former SABC head of news Phil Molefe, paid R4,9 million to leave in 2013.

Phil Molefe was forced out says Gavin Davis, the DA's member of parliament and member of parliament's portfolio committee on communications, because he allegedly refused to bow to political pressure to blacklist Julius Malema from the airwaves.

The SABC's former acting chief operating officer (COO) Christine Mampane got R4,3 million and the former SABC CEO Solly Mokoetle took home R3,8 million.

Solly Mokoetle is now the head of South Africa's digital terrestrial television (DTT) migration project at the department of communications.

Others rolling in the money after leaving the SABC with golden handshakes include former SABC secretary Thelma Melk (R3 million), Zaiboonisha Jones (R1.7 million), Rapitse Montsho (R1.2 million), Jackie Motsepe (R882 000), Christopher David (R800 000) and Khulekelwe Mbonambi (R623 000).

"The amount paid to executives whose contracts are terminated prematurely averages out at R7 million per year. This is the equivalent of 26 415 annual TV licence renewals," says Gavin Davis in a statement.

"In virtually all of these cases, the executives receiving the payouts were purged for political reasons."

"As with other public entities, SABC executives are hired on the basis of their perceived loyalty to the dominant faction of the ANC instead of their ability to do the job. When deployed cadres fall out of political favour, they get dumped with a massive payout to soften the landing."

"This constant churn of deployed cadres is the reason why the SABC lurches from one crisis to the next," says Gavin Davis.

Even the ANC now acknowledges that there's a leadership crisis at the SABC. In its recent NGC discussion paper, the ANC says "the series of crises at the public broadcaster reflect a lack of leadership, lack of accountability and poor management."

The ANC says there's been a lack of "attention to holding those responsible to account for the financial and organisational maladministration that has brought the public broadcasting institution into crisis".

BREAKING. SABC TV licence required to get a set-top box for digital terrestrial television - even for the poorest, says head of DTT programme.

South African TV viewers will now likely have to provide a SABC TV licence to get an expensive set-top box (STB) required for digital terrestrial television (DTT) - even the poorest of the poor who won't get one of the 5 million free STBs government hand-outs without a valid licence.

It raises serious questions over how the government and broadcasters like the SABC want to complete the country's long-delayed switch-over from analogue to DTT - a process known as digital migration - in the department of communication's planned 18 to 24 months timeline once DTT is commercially launched if millions of TV households can't get a STB.

Millions of South African TV households, representing many more millions of viewers, don't have a valid licence for their TV sets and are not paying for an annual SABC TV licence.

It means that they will be locked out and barred from getting a STB and will eventually see their TV signals cut off and disappear once broadcasters like the SABC, e.tv and community TV stations switch off their analogue signals.

"We are looking at saying a television licence may well be required [for a STB]," said Solly Mokoetle, South Africa's head of the DTT programme.

He was a panelist at The New Age breakfast briefing on DTT which was held on Monday morning in Sandton.

While South Africa embarrassingly missed the 17 June international agreed to deadline to have completed the switch to DTT due to more than a decade of government ineptitude, Solly Mokoetle said on Monday that the qualifying criteria to get a free STB from the government - distributed through the South African Post Office - is at this point still being worked out.

According to the government's proposed DTT switch plans South Africa's poorest will first have to provide "proof" that they're poor.

Only households who can prove that they're "poor enough", something which will be a humiliating experience according to critics of the plan, will be able to get one of the 5 million STBs for free - if they have a SABC TV licence.

The STBs will cost other TV households around R700 to R800, while a new TV antenna for DTT at an additional cost will also be required in a lot of cases just so that people can continue watching the digitally transmitted version of the TV channels they've had before, as well as some new ones.

"We are still in the process of consulting to finalise the nitty-gritty details of this qualifying criteria. It should be a certain income level in a household. The cabinet policy is based on funding the indigent," said Solly Mokoetle.

"Does that [requirement of a SABC TV licence] discriminate against more of our people or not? The point however is that a television licence is a law in South Africa. So it is a requirement [for a STB]. Now, we will be looking at all of these factors as we move towards the distribution point."

Nobody on the panel could answer moderator Peter Ndoro's question of how the 5 million poor TV households receiving a free government STB will be prevented from selling that asset to get the money.

BREAKING. Government has plans to make Solly Mokoetle boss over the SABC with a department of communications job.

I've been told by 4 very reliable sources (2 within the department of communications, 2 in broadcasting) that the just-resigned Solly Mokoetle who used to be the suspended group CEO of the SABC, will in a sense remain the boss of the SABC since the department of communications plan to appoint Solly Mokoetle as the director general (DG) of the department of communications in the vacant position.

The sources tell me that the department of communications (that haven't advertised for the position) now sees it as an opportunity to ''keep Solly Mokoetle in charge of the SABC''. ''It doesn't seem as if the SABC is going to be able to get rid of Solly Mokoetle easily despite paying him R3,4 million to go away and if he's appointed he's going to make things difficult for the SABC board who he absolutely detest,'' a source tells me. One source used the word ''redeployed'' referring to the plan to have Solly Mokoetle appointed as director general.

There's no official word from the department of communications yet on Solly Mokoetle's ''redeployment'' who seems oblivious to the huge amount of self-imposed trouble it's creating for itself with its plan to stack its own shelf with damaged goods well past its sell by date.

BREAKING. The SABC's embattled suspended group CEO Solly Mokoetle to represent himself in ongoing disciplinary hearing.

The SABC's embattled and suspended group CEO Solly Mokoetle - currently in a disciplinary hearing that was postponed this week and which will resume next week - will now suddenly represent himself, SABC News is now reporting.

Solly Mokoetle's former attorney Jurgens Bekker is no longer representing Solly Mokoetle. The suspended group CEO of the public broadcaster asked the SABC for money for legal representation but the SABC board denied it, saying that his R2 million annual salary is enough. That's the reason why Solly Mokoetle's disciplinary hearing that started on Monday was suddenly and mysteriously suspended on Wednesday and moved to next week.

Solly Mokoetle was appointed as the SABC's new group CEO in January, but in a spectacular and a very public falling-out with the SABC board (since he seemed to only follow and act upon orders by the SABC chairperson dr Ben Ngubane) was suspended a mere nine months later. Solly Mokoetle stands accused on a myriad of charges, primary of which is his alleged failure to conceive and implement a turnaround strategy for the beleaguered public broadcaster mired in debt and mismanagement.

ALSO READ: Disciplinary hearing of the SABC's suspended group CEO Solly Mokoetle mysteriously suspended on Wednesday.
ALSO READ: Disciplinary hearing against the SABC's suspended group CEO Solly Mokoetle continues on Tuesday, day 2.
ALSO READ: Disciplinary hearing of the SABC's suspended group CEO Solly Mokoetle to kick off on Monday.

Disciplinary hearing against the suspended SABC's group CEO Solly Mokoetle continuing for a second day.

The disciplinary hearing against the SABC's suspended group CEO Solly Mokoetle is continuing today, Tuesday, November 9, after it started yesterday against the beleaguered SABC exec who was suspended by the SABC board barely nine months after he was appointed in January.

The embattled Solly Mokoetle is accused by the SABC board with 17 charges, amongst which the failure to draft and implement a much-needed turn-around strategy for the suffering South African public broadcaster that's sinking away in a leaderless quagmire of debt and mismanagement. He also unilaterally - on the orders of the SABC chairperson dr Ben Ngubane - appoint Phil Molefe as the SABC's head of news - an appointment procedure that was supposed to be done by the SABC board.

ALSO READ: Disciplinary hearing of the SABC's suspended group CEO Solly Mokoetle started on Monday.

The folly of the seemingly supercilious Solly: The SABC's group CEO just says: ''I don't answer questions.''

''I don't answer questions.''

That is the response of the SABC's group CEO, Solly Mokoetle, to Sapa when the South African public broadcaster's executive was asked to respond on his disciplinary process.

The SABC board has served Solly Mokoetle with a letter ordering him to justify why he shouldn't be suspended for allegedly failing to come up with a turn-around strategy for the troubled SABC. Solly Mokoetle has not yet responded to the letter, according to the SABC, and Solly Mokoetle is also not talking. On Tuesday in parliament dr Ben Ngubane, SABC board chairman, said that Solly Mokoetle is being ''victimized'' by the SABC board.

The SABC board wants to get rid of both dr Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle after both blatantly flouted SABC corporate governance regulations when dr Ben Ngubane ordered Solly Mokoetle to appoint Phil Molefe as the broadcaster's head of news - a decision that never came before the SABC board who's job it is to make this appointment.

BREAKING. Support Public Broadcasting's (SOS) strongly-worded open letter to government about the SABC chaos: Fire dr Ben Ngubane!

The public pressure group Support Public Broadcasting Coalition (SOS) just send an open letter to mr Ismail Vadi, the chairperson of parliament's portfolio committee on communications. Yesterday Ismail Vadi called the entire SABC board to appear before the commitee on communications on Monday to answer about the new chaos and infighting crippling South Africa's public broadcaster highest executive level.

In the open letter SOS says the public pressure group (that represents a vast number of trade unions, independent producer organisations, academics and freedom of expression groups and institutions) is concerned about ''the persistent undermining of the governance role of the SABC board'' and the ''power battles over the performance of SABC group CEO Solly Mokoetle.''

''Solly Mokoetle has ignored and overturned SABC board decisions and has been supported in this by the SABC chairperson dr Ben Ngubane who appears disinterested in the opinion of the majority of the SABC board. Dr Ben Ngubane does not appear to believe that he needs the approval of the SABC board on any matter or indeed that their strong disapproval should sway his unilateral decisions,'' says the SOS in the strongly-worded letter.

''SABC board members have declared a vote of no confidence in the SABC chairperson. Since May SABC board meetings have been constantly cancelled leading to a situation where no real interrogation and action is being taken against the SABC chairperson. Further, no real oversight has been taken over key governance and financial issues for a number of months. Over the last months, effective oversight and leadership of the SABC has suffered deeply due to a stand-off between the SABC chairperson and the group CEO and the rest of the SABC board members. This has deepened the political, economic and governance crises the SABC has faced over a number of years.''

''The SOS believes that the prospect of the resignation of numerous members of the SABC board - that in general has the confidence of the public - will be devastating for the future of the public broadcaster. At present the SABC is torn asunder for what can only be described as dubious reasons. SOS believes strongly that the control of the SABC has to be in the hands of the SABC board that was put in place by a public and democratic process. Without this SOS believes the SABC is no longer accountable to the public.''

''SOS welcomes parliament's decision to exercise its oversight role over the SABC and to investigate the controversy around the appointment of the head of news, progress (or lack thereof) related to the drafting of the SABC's turnaround strategy and the overall functionality of the SABC board. SOS expects parliament will take action to finally remove the chairperson of the SABC board.''

BREAKING. South Africa's minister of communications silences SABC board, ''urges'' them to refrain from talking.

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Genl. Siphiwe Nyanda, South Africa's minister of communications who has taken longer than two weeks to react to the massive new fiasco unfolding at South Africa's public broadcaster has now silenced the SABC board, instructing them NOT to talk about the unfolding internal leadership crisis at the beleaguered SABC.

The SABC board is at odds with dr. Ben Ngubane, SABC board chairperson as well as the SABC's group CEO, Solly Mokoetle with a growing rift between the board and these two bumbling executives after they unilaterally decided to ''appoint'' Phil Molefe as the new head of news at the public broadcaster. The SABC board announced the ''appointment'' as ''null and void'', but Solly Mokoetle - despite this decision by the board - told the SABC's news staff on Tuesday that Phil Molefe IS the head of news.

Now genl. Siphiwe Nyanda is entering the new SABC battle that is raging at the very top of the SABC, mere days before the public broadcaster is supposed to starts the broadcast of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and after the SABC was pummeled last year by allegations of serious corruption, mismanagement, a dire lack of financial discipline and corporate governance, the inability to pay local producers and a massive struggle between the SABC's then group CEO and the SABC board chairperson.

In a late night statement from the department of communications, the department says ''the minister has noted with concern the developments surrounding the appointing of the head of news at the public broadcaster. The minister has been briefed about the issue.'' The statement continues by saying ''he will meet with the board soon''. He then ''in particular urges'' SABC board members ''to refrain from making statements while this issue is being dealt with'' - an issue which has now been ongoing for a least two weeks, and having no similar urge to tell dr. Ben Ngubane, Solly Mokoetle and Phil Molefe to keep their mouths shut as well.

I can tell you exclusively first that the SABC will be having an official launch function of their new SABC Broadcast Centre this coming Wednesday, June 9, at the Sandton Convention Centre which will make for a spectacular show-and-tell since all of these people will most probably all be there.

ALSO READ: SABC's Solly Mokoetle tells shocked news staff that Phil Molefe IS the new head of news.
ALSO READ: SABC board calls ''appointment'' of Phil Molefe as head of news ''null and void''.

BREAKING. SABC's biggest union demands the ''immediate suspension'' of the public broadcaster's group CEO, as well as chairman of SABC board.

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Massive, major, and swift developments in the unfolding story of the next sorry power play saga that's engulfed the SABC and ignited a firestorm the likes of which the SABC hasn't seen in years. Bemawu, the biggest union within the SABC has just asked for the ''immediate suspension'' of the chairperson of the SABC board, dr. Ben Ngubane, as well as the SABC's group CEO, Solly Mokoetle.

Bemawu is also asking that the appointment be set aside of Phil Molefe as the public broadcaster's new head of news and current affairs. This appointment of the position can only be made by the full SABC board and not dr. Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle who have singlehandedly created a maelstrom of public criticm and outrage by making the appointment unilaterally.

''It constitute a very serious breach of corporate governance and has the potential of once again plunging the SABC into similar turmoil the country experienced the same time last year,'' says Bemawu in a strongly worded statement. ''It also has the potential of seriously jeopardizing the World Cup, only 20 days away. The SABC and the country cannot again afford a division in the SABC board with all its infighting.''

ALSO READ: ''Rome once again burning. . .'': Entire SABC abuzz over broadcaster's new internal power struggle.
ALSO READ: Fundamental breach of corporate governance inside SABC, says SOS pressure group.
ALSO READ: SABC board COMPLETELY bypassed in appointment of Phil Molefe as SABC's new head of news.
ALSO READ: SABC appoints Phil Molefe as new head of news.
ALSO READ: After more than a year . . . still no new head of news at the SABC.

TOLDJA! SABC will trot out the new and former SABC board and new CEO on Wednesday.

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Yesterday I told you that the SABC will today announce a press conference - most probably for this Wednesday - with the new CEO, Solly Mokoetle and the new chairperson of the SABC Board.

Well, the public broadcaster just did exactly as I said yesterday would be happening this week.

On Wednesday, 13 January the SABC is having a press conference at the SABC at 18:30 in the ground floor auditorium with the SABC interim board, the new SABC permanent board and the new CEO. The press will have - as I've said yesterday - the opportunity to ask questions, interact with the new board, the newly appointed group chief executive officer as well as the former SABC interim board.

BREAKING. Save our SABC (SOS) changes its name.

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The Save our SABC (SOS), an independent interest group, has changed their name to Supporting Public Broadcasting. The public interest group that last year worked very hard to put and keep the spotlight on the myriad of issues and problems that besieged the SABC, will still be known under the moniker of SOS.

The SOS says they ''welcomes Solly's appointment''. (Solly Mokoetle who just started as the new CEO of the SABC).

The SOS also advises Solly Mokoetle and the new SABC board not to get ''unnecessarily diverted''. ''There are enormous issues to deal with including the entire turn-around of the SABC''.

BREAKING. New SABC board will bring ''stability''.

You're reading it here first. Two days after the news that Solly Mokoetle has been appointed as the new group CEO of the SABC and that dr. ben Ngubane has been appointed as the new chairperson of the new permanent SABC board, the SABC has seen it fit to issue a press release (gasp!).

Any faster and the SABC might have to change the names of the soapies it broadcasts to Minutes of Our Lives and Geneseconds.

I asked immediately when the news of Solly Mokoetle's appointment became official, but only got an answer from the SABC now.

''The management and staff of the SABC have full confidence in the newly appointed board,'' says Gab Mampone, acting group CEO. He says these appointments ''will bring stability to the corporation.''

''Once there is stability, the corporation will strive to be profitable,'' he says.

TOLDYA! Solly Mokoetle the SABC's new group CEO.

 On 25 November I was first with the news that Solly Mokoetle is probably going to be the new group CEO of the SABC. The SABC has now finally confirmed this. The SABC's interim board has appointed Solly Mokoetle in the position and he will start officially from January 2010. Solly replaces Gab Mampone.

Solly was chief content officer at Super5Media who wants to start a satellite TV platform in 2010.

The SABC interime board chairperson, Irene Charnley says Solly Mokoetle was ''selected as a suitable candidate following vigrous and necessary processes'' and that he has been working at the SABC for 12 years.

What the SABC is NOT saying, is that Solly Mokoetle had to be escorted OUT of the SABC when he refused to vacate his office in December 2006 when he didn't want to leave after his contract wasn't renewed at the end of December 2006.