SABC fires 2 more alleged 'Hlaudi Motsoeneng enforcers' with high-level managers Sully Motsweni and Mzu Ndlovu who are both gonners.

The SABC has fired 2 more high-level managers and alleged "Hlaudi Motsoeneng enforcers", with former SABC Sport boss Sully Motsweni facing charges of fraud and corruption, and human resources manager Mzu Ndlovu who got the boot and are gonners from the South African public broadcaster.

Sunday World first reported about the firing of Sully Motsweni and Mzu Ndlovu. The SABC says that "the SABC can confirm that Mzu Ndlovu and Sully Motsweni's employment contracts have been terminated".

Sully Motsweni, the former SABC Sport boss, is in the dock on charges of alleged corruption and allegedly looting the SABC by taking family like her mother, kids and friends on jetset luxury trips using the SABC credit card.

Both Sully Motsweni and Mzu Ndlovu were suspended months ago and were allegedly enforcers of the SABC's famously matricless chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng who unleashed chaos, financial destruction, and censorship inside the SABC during his management reign of terror.

Alleged Hlaudi enforcer, the SABC's now-suspended sports boss Sully Motsweni, in the dock on charges of corruption and allegedly looting the SABC by taking mama, kids and friends on jetset lux trips.

The SABC's suspended sports boss, Sully Motsweni stood in the dock on Wednesday, with the alleged Hlaudi Motsoeneng enforcer and acolyte accused of looting the embattled South African public broadcaster by taking luxury plane and hotel trips for which she shamelessly added family members, and abused her position to get it approved.

Sully Motsweni was granted bail of R5000 on Wednesday after she appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Crime Court after she was arrested on Wednesday morning at her home in Boksburg.

The SABC executive has been investigated by the police on 11 counts of fraud she allegedly committed at the SABC.

Under Hlaudi Motsoeneng's so-called "reign of terror", Sully Motsweni as one of his alleged enforcers, got massive salary increases similar to him, and would jetset across South Africa with her family members in tow.

Just like Hlaudi Motsoeneng, Sully Motsweni suddenly saw massive salary increases at the SABC - first when she got appointed as general manager of compliance, operation and stakeholder relations in 2011.

Her salary was bumped up again in 2012 from R960 500 to a whopping R1.5million.

Sully Motsweni's shocking alleged spending spree with SABC money started in April 2014 when the SABC Sports boss allegedly lived the high life until April 2017, allegedly looting the SABC of R45 182.

Sully Motsweni, according to court documents, allegedly duped the SABC by getting approval for jet-set travel across South Africa with "officials" who turned out to be family members like her own sons and mother.

Sully Motsweni's mom who doesn't work at the SABC, for instance attended the Crown Gospel Awards in 2014 and 2015 - something the SABC was forced to pay for. Two additional friends who lived the lux life, were also paid for by the SABC.

The SABC was again forced to pay when Sully Motsweni jetted to the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town in 2014 with three kids and a friend, and again in 2017.

Sully Motsweni said her adult sons were athletes in the marathon. Neither were however taking part in the marathon and the SABC said they didn't "add value to the SABC brand".

SABC and SuperSport given the Olympic Games and Winter Olympics broadcasting rights for South Africa until 2024.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has awarded the Olympic Games free-to-air and pay-TV broadcasting rights for South Africa to the SABC and to SuperSport for the next two Olympic Games and the Winter Olympics.

The SABC to free-to-air viewers, and SuperSport to MultiChoice's DStv subscribers, will broadcast the Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 and the Olympic Games in 2024.

SuperSport was given the pay-TV rights in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, with the SABC given the free-to-air broadcasting rights in South Africa. Econet Media gets the free-to-air rights in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as pay-TV broadcasting rights as well for its Kwesé Sports channels, where it will compete with SuperSport for viewers.

According to the agreement the SABC will have to broadcast at least 200 hours of live or same day coverage of each edition of the Olympic Games and faily highlights of the Olympic Winter Games.

SuperSport will have to work with the IOC to support the development of the Olympic Channel, including the production of localised content and linear distribution across Africa.

"As long-time partners of the OIC, SuperSport is delighted to have secured these excellent Olympic rights," says Gideon Khobane, SuperSport CEO.

"The Games produce consistently good ratings, no doubt because of the non-stop drama and action that make for compelling viewing. We look forward to putting together a multi-platform, multi-channel offering that will reflect the Olympics in their full glory".

Sully Motsweni, the SABC's head of SABC Sport says "there are many live events that SABC Sport brings to millions of South Africans every day, but none comes close to the triumph of Olympic spirit and the ultimate objective of winning gold as our athletes represent South Africa on a global stage".

Habu Gumel, OIC member for broadcasting rights in Africa says "we are pleased to be able to continue our longstanding partnerships with DStv, SuperSport and the SABC".

Fired Metro FM sportscaster Robert Marawa slams 'crazy, wrong-doing' SABC executives; says truth will come out, that there's lots of unhappy people at the SABC.

The fired veteran sportscaster Robert Marawa who got sacked by the SABC from his Metro FM show in the week without being told directly after he stood up for his suspended producer is calling out the SABC's "crazy" and "wrong-doing" executives.

He told Power FM in a radio interview that the truth will come out and that there's a lot of unhappy people at the SABC.

In the week the SABC's latest head of sport Sully Motsweni and the acting general manager for radio Orapeleng Lethebe fired the veteran sportscaster Robert Marawa who has been doing the hugely popular Sports@6 show on Metro FM, and said in a statement that the SABC "wishes him well".

The beleaguered and cash-strapped SABC that no longer has a head of radio and is awaiting yet another government bail-out, then admitted that it didn't tell Robert Marawa directly that he was fired, with SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago claiming that the SABC couldn't get hold of him.

Three weeks ago Robert Marawa refused to return to his Metro FM show out of solidarity after what he called the unfair suspension of his radio show producer Beverly Maphangwa for including a short comment from a sports commentator in the show - something that presenters are allowed to do.

The SABC then sent Robert Marawa a letter saying he has to give reason why he shouldn't be fired for failing to show up for work.

Robert Marawa who also works as a sportscaster or pay-TV broadcaster MultiChoice and its SuperSport media outfit had to find out from other SABC staffers that he was abruptly fired this week when they got a company-circulated internal email and they in turn told him.

"SABC Sport came through from the beginning of June and took over the running of the show as opposed to Metro FM running the show," Robert Marawa told the Power FM radio station in an interview on Friday, explaining the bizarre circumstances around his firing from the SABC.

"It suddenly became SABC Sport now in charge of all sports on all radio stations, including Metro FM".

"I did say as long as you guys don't interfere with the editorial of the show, I don't have a problem with this new plan that you guys have. But it didn't take long for it to really surface that it was about the editorial that was the key factor," said Robert Marawa.

"So somebody who is coming in, who's new with a set agenda, can't come through and tell me - especially if they don't have a background in broadcasting, they've got a background in telling TV presenters what to wear on weekends, and you've been in marketing and you've been doing all of these things - and then all of a sudden you feel you've got the power to come through and tell us that."

"So they have trumped up charges against Bev, suspended her. But they never ever had a hearing for her. She never went for a disciplinary hearing to say 'charge 1'."

"So they suspended her, never charged her, I took myself off air and then as a result I'm now charged with withdrawing my services. But I withdrew my services, notifying them I'm not coming through."

"Then yesterday they reinstated her, but never mentioned any of the two charges that she had so-called broken within the SABC."


'These guys are crazy'
Robert Marawa told Power FM that "my lawyer actually laughed at the charges and said these guys are crazy, and crazy they are. And that is why with sober minds we will approach it in a manner where South Africans will be able to see what has gone on here. I'm not fighting to get my job back. It's not about that."

"We will be able to present a very clear case of why the public has been duped and why after I had gone to the SABC interim board myself, David Kekana and a whole group of people have gone and approached SABC board deputy chairperson Mathata Tsedu, Krish Naidoo in the presence of acting chief operating officer (COO) Bessie Tugwana".

Robert Marawa said they mentioned to the SABC's interim board the "shenanigans" that Sully Motsweni "is committing as we speak who has been in charge of SABC Sport and it has to do with money, and it has to do with wrong-doing".

Robert Marawa told Power FM that she was in the meeting that was held during the week "recused themselves, said they're going to Sandton, but ultimately came back into the meeting to then say to everybody 'Robert has got to go - immediately', which was her call".

He said "people mustn't read and then fall prey to the lies that these people are bringing forward".


'When people are doing wrong, you shouldn't be scared'
Robert Marawa slammed the SABC for the public broadcaster's apparent lack of support to on-air talent.

"Unfortunately there, the more you succeed, and the more you bring in the numbers, the more people fall in love with your work, the more the people that are running the show - the administrators - and some of the ones who made this decision are in acting positions, imagine taking such a drastic decision from someone who is in an acting position," said Robert Marawa.

"When it comes to support, it's funny how when you get to a level of excellence in what you do, then the people around you tend not to support you," he said.

"The reason why I speak openly about this and I don't really fear anybody about this, is because it's the public broadcaster. It belong to the public. So when they go for bail-outs after they've chowed the money ... it's your money as a public broadcaster".

"When people are doing wrong, you shouldn't be scared," said Robert Marawa. "A lot of people are unhappy there [at the SABC] but they'll keep quiet".

"I stand my ground because you can't fear anybody. Rather starve in dignity than eat in shame."

BREAKING. SABC fires sportscaster Robert Marawa as latest veteran talent gone from public broadcaster's Metro FM after ugly in-fighting.

The SABC has fired the veteran sportscaster Robert Marawa who has been dumped from Metro FM as the latest veteran broadcasting talent to be jettisoned by the struggling public broadcaster and the radio station after ongoing behind-the-scenes in-fighting.

Robert Marawa who also works as a sports journalist for pay-TV broadcaster MultiChoice and its SuperSport media outfit has had his contract terminated and found out from other SABC staffers who got a company-circulated internal email.

Three weeks ago Robert Marawa refused to return to his Metro FM show out of solidarity after the "unfair suspension" of his radio show producer Beverly Maphangwa. The SABC then sent him a letter saying he has to give reason why he shouldn't be fired.

Beverly Maphanga was suspended for her decision to include a short commentary in a show that was broadcast on SuperSport. The SABC often uses SuperSport visuals on its TV stations.

In a statement on Wednesday afternoon the SABC said it would "like to announce that it has parted ways with sports presenter Robert Marawa".

The SABC said that "SABC Sport has accepted his decision to repudiate his contract with the SABC which he entered into with SABC Sport on 6 June 2017. The SABC engaged Robert Marawa several times to try and remedy the situation."

According to Sully Motsweni, the SABC's sport boss, "Robert Marawa "had contributed immensely to the sport brand of the organisation. It was hard for us to accept but we concede to his decision".

Metro FM and the SABC have seen a string of exits just this year as the cash-strapped SABC continues to be plagued by management upheaval and talent management problems that spills into the public.

SABC removes acting CFO Audrey Raphela; reportedly suspended sports and radio bosses Sully Motsweni and Orapeleng Lethebe.

The SABC has removed the controversial Audrey Raphela as acting chief financial officer (CFO) at the public broadcaster, and ordered acting general manager for stakeholder relations Puleng Thulo back to Radio 2000 where she's the station manager.

The SABC also reportedly suspended the SABC's group executive for sports Sully Motsweni and the acting general manager for radio Orapeleng Lethebe, although there's been no confirmation from the SABC.

Audrey Raphela was called a liar in parliament last month were she faced several calls for her suspension and removal.

The SABC reportedly also replaced acting group executive for corporate affairs, Keobokile Mosweu, with Hosea Jiyane.

According to reports, the SABC interim board ordered SABC management to overturn the firing of the SABC sports presenters and analysts David Kekana, Coudjoe Amakwaa, Lindani Mbense and Christopher Bongo.

The four sports reporters were fired last month and told their services won't be needed after the end of June as the cash-strapped SABC is terminating several freelance contracts.

The alleged suspension of Sully Motsweni and Orapeleng Lethebe comes after the SABC and radio station Metro FM gave sports presenter Robert Marawa a letter saying he has to provide reasons why he shouldn't be fired.

The sports presenters made use of the open door policy of the new SABC interim board, and went directly to the board to explain how they are allegedly being harassed and mistreated by SABC senior managers inside the public broadcaster.

SABC and Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) signs multi-year agreement to broadcast mixed martial arts on SABC3 from 11 February.

After the SABC failed to realise many of the promises the South African public broadcaster made for more live boxing on the SABC in June 2015 the SABC on Wednesday signed a multi-year broadcasting partnership with the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) to broadcast mixed martial arts (MMA) through the SABC Sport banner on SABC3.

EFC content was broadcast on e.tv in 2016 but this partnership is now switching to the SABC.

The announcement comes as the SABC struggles to provide enough and relevant sports coverage of national interest to South African viewers, with SABC executives the past two years warning parliament that the SABC will go bankrupt if it has to continue to fork out millions of rand for sports rights of which the costs keeps escalating.

Sully Motsweni, SABC Sport executive says in a statement he is "proud to announce that SABC Sport has partnered with EFC, a home-grown world-leading mixed martial arts organisation."

In the new deal between the SABC and the EFC, EFC fights will be broadcast on SABC3 from Saturday 11 February at 21:00 in two-hour blocks per week, with 10 live EFC event broadcasts per year.

The SABC says this EFC coverage will then be rebroadcast on Mondays at 14:00 on SABC3. This means the local Fun-Natix youth and kids programming usually broadcast at 14:00 on SABC3 is being replaced by fighting.

During the 10 live EFC events, SABC3 will broadcast three hours of EFC coverage live until midnight. The first live EFC event on SABC3 will be EFC 57 broadcast on 4 March.

"This is a huge day for mixed martial arts and EFC fans across South Africa," says Cairo Howarth, EFC president.

"Now Saturday nights have got a whole lot more exciting thanks to SABC Sport. This is a huge milestone for EFC, its partners and the EFC athletes, who will all be showcased to millions of SABC3 viewers every Saturday night and repeated on Monday afternoon. Exciting times for MMA!"

SABC3 doesn't have million of viewers, with its most watched show in prime time during December 2016 luring 889 585 viewers.

"The SABC has always prided itself in producing and promoting the best home-grown television productions as well as bringing the best international sport and entertainment to local viewers," says SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.

"EFC events are hosted across South Africa, and appeal to a wide local audience. We are very proud to be promoting the sport in the different provinces and bringing all the top-quality EFC programming to SABC."

SABC staff in 'grave concern and shock' over latest top executive appointments that 'smack of favouritism', wasn't advertised and is unprocedural.

SABC staff are in "grave concern and shock" over the latest reshuffling of top executives at the beleaguered South African public broadcaster and a string of sudden top level appointments that wasn't advertised and that staffers say "smack of favouritism" and is completely unprocedural.

Simon Tebele has suddenly been appointed as the SABC's new head of news and current affairs, with Tsheliso Ralitabo as the new head of media technology infrastructure.

Kevin Green, the national sales manager for TV sales is now the new general manager for TV sales (a position previous held by Tshifhiwa Mulaudzi).

Meanwhile Bessie Tugwana who headed up the SABC Sport division is swopping places with Sully Motsweni who headed up corporate affairs. 

Bessie Tugwana is suddenly in charge of corporate affairs while Sully Motsweni is now the head of SABC Sport, with no explanation to the public from the SABC as to why.

Nomsa Philiso who was the head of the commercial enterprises division is now the SABC's new head of TV.

Nomsa Philiso is replacing the fired Verona Duwarkah who allegedly had a falling out with controversial SABC chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng after Verona Duwarkah was unwilling to sign off on multi-million rand proposals for new local content ordered by the famously matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng, including a new local fantasy mermaid drama, that was allegedly not being commissioned properly.

The new SABC appointments are effective from 1 August according to the SABC.

In a statement the SABC says the appointments are "aimed at continuously maximising the organisation's business efficiency and delivering on the public service mandate".

The SABC says it believes that the appointments will "strengthen the SABC’s core business and public service mandate".

Meanwhile SABC staffers are shocked and outraged who first heard of the appointments in the press statement.

Trade union Bemawu, in a strongly-worded letter to SABC management this morning that TVwithThinus obtained a copy of and has seen, slams the appointments and says it "smacks of favouritism".

"In particular in the instance of Simon Tebele, it appears as if he is now rewarded, instead of being punished, for unlawfully and invalidly terminating the employment contracts of the 7 journalists and by doing so incurred fruitless and wasteful expenditure on behalf of the SABC," says Bemawu.

Bemawu says it has "grave concern and shock" about the SABC's appointments and the broadcaster's lack of respect for employee rights. 

Bemawu says in the letter to top management that it "insists that the SABC undo these unprocedural appointments and advertise the posts to afford all employees the opportunity to apply".

"The SABC has a recruitment policy stipulating that all vacant positions shall be advertised internally as it is only fair to afford everyone in the organisation the opportunity to apply for vacant positions," says Bemawu.

Bemawu warns the SABC that if the appointments are not reversed, that it will take legal action.

Zola Yeye, the SABC's provincial general manager in the Eastern Cape and former Springbok rugby player, retires after 24 years with the SABC.

Zola Yeye, the SABC's provincial general manager for the Eastern Cape has retired after 24 years with the public broadcaster.

Zola Yeye retired at the end of September after he started his career in December 1991 with the SABC.

Zola Yeye joined the SABC in 1991 first as a journalist and then moving on to national assignment editor at the SABC's news division in Johannesburg.

He then became the regional news editor for TV and radio in the Eastern Cape at the SABC, after which he was appointed as the executive producer of News Hour.

In 2003 Zola Yeye was appointed general manager for the Eastern Cape province at the SABC, a position he held for 12 years.

Zola Yeye was a former South African international rugby player who also for a period served as Springbok team manager.

"Zola Yeye will be remembered for his immense contribution to the success of the SABC," says Sully Motsweni, SABC corporate affairs executive.

"His retirement is a great loss to us but a well-deserved respite for him," says Sully Motsweni.

SABC appoints Jimi Mathews as new head of SABC News, ups Nothando Maseko as head of SABC TV News, Bessie Tugwana to run SABC Sport.

The SABC is making executive appointments, which are becoming effective from 1 December 2014, moving Jimi Mathews to head of SABC News and current affairs, making Nothando Maseko the head of SABC Television news, Sebolelo Ditlhakayane the head of SABC Radio news and Bessie Tugwana the head of SABC Sport.

Sully Motsweni is appointed as the head of SABC stakeholder relations and provinces.

Jimi Mathews has been acting in the position of group executive: news and current affairs and will now get the position permanently.

Bessie Tugwana has been acting in the position for a while, and is now getting to be the boss of SABC Sport permanently after having worked at the television side as an executive for year.

Nothando Maseko who is taking over as the head of SABC Television news has been the executive producer of SABC2's morning show, Morning Live. Nothando Maseko will be an "understudy" of Jimi Mathews until he leaves.

Sebolelo Ditlhakanyane as the new head of SABC Radio news was the SABC's regional editor in the Northern Cape.

BREAKING. Henley Studios was locked as Isidingo went up in flames; took time to unlock as fire at the SABC blazed out of control inside.

Henley Studios was locked shut as fire fighters tried to gain access, while the out-of-control fire which started inside on Wednesday night just after 20:00 at the SABC raged out of control and flames destroyed the Isidingo set, burnt through cabling, and incinerating technical equipment worth tens of millions of rands.

The SABC says Henley Studios and Studio 6 where the blaze raged for more than 3 hours on Wednesday night and smoke plumed over the roof today, was locked after hours and that it took time to open the studio to gain access after the fire started.

Serious questions are now being raised over the building' safety with labour inspectors who have issued the SABC with an urgent prohibition order barring anyone from entering the charred area where smoke yesterday incapacitated even some experienced fire fighters battling the raging blaze.

"It was locked," says Sully Motsweni, the SABC's group executive responsible for risk and governance. "It did take a while for us to get the key and open and gain access to the studio fascility."

Sully Motsweni says "like any other asset that you would want to protect, especially the value of the contents that were inside that studio it was locked."

The SABC's chief operating officer (COO), Hlaudi Motsoeneng, who was on the site of the blaze, said "this is something we don't know how to handle, but I think we will get there". Hlaudi Motsoeneng said "as SABC we're very shock. We're not expecting this. As you know, I mean, financially, we are not sound."

BREAKING. Emergency SABC board meeting at the public broadcaster after massive fire engulfs SABC, destroys Isidingo and takes SABC3 off the air.

The SABC board held an urgent emergency board meeting hours ago this morning after fire raged through South Africa's public broadcaster last night, taking the one TV channel, SABC3 off the air for a while, and gutting Studio 6 in the Henley Studios complex, completely destroying the Isidingo soap set and causing tens of millions of rands worth of damage.

The SABC is in shock today after the blaze which took fire fighters, some of whom were overcome with smoke inhallation, more than three hours to get under control after it started just after 20:00 and which the SABC's internal fire control and extinguishing system couldn't put out.

The SABC's acting chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng who was on the scene of the blaze, said "this is something we don't know how to handle it, but I think we will get there."

The SABC board wanted to assess the impact of the damage caused by the fire that broke out in the Henley television production studios, and in a just-issued statement the SABC says the SABC board has "deep concern about the safety of all personnel and the possible disruption of scheduled programming on television."

Sully Motsweni, the SABC's group executive for risk and governance briefed the SABC board about the fire which was the largest the SABC has ever experienced at the public broadcaster's Auckland Park headquarters. She told the SABC board about the destruction of the fire and the contingency measures the SABC has put in place.

The SABC has offered trauma councelling to staff near the site at the time.

"In terms of production agreements we have with the producers, we have 6 weeks of material in advance, which should give us ample time to find alternative studios to produce forthcoming episodes of our popular soap, Isidingo," says the SABC.

"The other soaps, Muvhango and Generations, will not be affected, but production staff will not be able to enter the studios until the relevant authorities have declared the area safe. The cause of the fire is currently being investigated," says the SABC. Sully Motsweni is heading the SABC's internation inquiry, while authories are also investigating. Sully Motsweni is also in charge of the contingency plans that need to be put in place so that television production at the SABC can continue.

The SABC says the broadcaster wants to assure "our advertisers, viewers and listeners that our operations have not been affected. Our programmes and adverts will go on-air as scheduled."