SABC IN CHAOS & CRISIS: SABC reports that Ben Ngubane and Thami Ka Plaatjie are 'locked in a meeting' with Dina Pule.

The SABC in chaos & crisis: With the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in utter meltdown as the broadcaster's top executive and management is tearing South Africa's public broadcaster apart from the inside right from the very top, SABC television reported on the latest salvo - the resignation of SABC chairperson dr. Ben Ngubane and deputy chairperson Thami Ka Plaatjie - on Monday evening.

On the News @ 7 on SABC3, news anchor Vabakshnee Chetty informed the nation that Dina Pule, South Africa's communications minister "is locked in a meeting with dr. Ben Ngubane and his deputy Thami Ka Plaatjie after they've resigned as SABC board chairperson and deputy chairperson".

"President Jacob Zuma received a joint letter of resignation from dr. Ben Ngubane and Thami Ka Plaatjie. The president's office is considering the resignations."

"In a protracted meeting, minister Dina Pule wants the duo to withdrawn their resignations," reported the SABC. "The precise reasons for the resignations is not known. Last week the SABC board announced that Hlaudi Motsoeneng's tenure as acting chief operating officer (COO) had been terminated."

"It was reported later that dr. Ben Ngubane had said that Hlaudi Motsoeneng had in fact been reinstated. Today the presidency confirmed that their resignation letters had been received."

"Only the president has the power to appoint or dismiss the chairperson and the deputy chairperson of the SABC board. Several political parties have asked the president to dismiss the SABC board," the SABC reported.

SABC IN CHAOS & CRISIS. The feuding SABC board meets with communications minister; parliament admits: 'Auckland Park is on fire!'

A public broadcaster in chaos and in crisis: The beleaguered South African public broadcaster - sadly no stranger for years now to controversy, scandal, rampant power abuse, financial mismanagement, factionalism, corruption and vicious infighting - saw its wayward top management and feuding SABC board lurch forward today with the latest chapter of a shocking public spectacle - an upper echelon tug-of-war eclipsing any power struggle the SABC has ever seen before.

While the SABC board met with the minister of communications, Dina Pule, today who is publicly and blatantly questioning "the fitness of the SABC board to remain in office", parliament's portfolio committee on communications - the government body tasked with oversight of the SABC - also met to urgently talk about the latest shocking management scandal engulfing the SABC; its chairperson Eric Kholwane saying that "Auckland Park is on fire!"

Dina Pule met with the SABC board this morning and afterwards called for an "urgent" review of the SABC board following massive breaches of corporate governance taking place at the highest levels of management at the South African public broadcaster.

The feuding SABC board and its chairperson dr. Ben Ngubane has plunged the SABC into the worst management crisis and good governance implosion the SABC has ever experienced.

To make it worse is the whole disgusting saga is playing out in full public view of an agast South African TV industry looking on at the latest incredulous scandal damaging what remains of the broadcaster's public image.

The massively destructive disaster started a week ago when the SABC board by consensus decision and without the SABC chairperson dr. Ben Ngubane present, decided to remove Hlaudi Motsoeneng, who famously doesn't have matric, as acting chief operating officer (COO).

Mike Siluma was appointed as the new acting COO at  the SABC. Mike Siluma promptly quit three days later on Friday.

Dr. Ben Ngubane and deputy chairperson Thami ka Plaatjie then unilaterally "reinstated'" Hlaudi Motsoeneng as acting COO.

The SABC board came out publicly and poured blatant scorn on the autocratic decision-making, saying that neither dr. Ben Ngubane, nor Thami ka Plaatjie, nor both, had the right or authority to make such a unilateral decision and that Hlaudi Motsoeneng is definitely not the acting COO again.

Now its the SABC top executive hitters against the SABC's top executive hitters slugging it out in vicious, public and dirty infighting tearing the struggling broadcaster further apart and this time right from the very top.

On Tuesday evening the SABC's flagship news bulletin, the News @ 7 held with the SABC board's point of view and reported that "the SABC board's decision to terminate Hlaudi Motsoeneng's tenure as acting chief operating officer remains in place."


'Auckland Park is on fire!'
On Tuesday morning two parallel meetings were underway trying to get control, and to grips with the staggering management crisis at the SABC - one between Dina Pule and the SABC board, and the other parliament's portfolio committee on communications.

In a press statement Dina Pule said she is "most concerned about the latest breaches of corporate governance that are playing themselves out in public".

Dina Pule said in the statement that she asked parliament "to advise if they believe this SABC board is helping the government to deliver on its mandate to give South Africans access to quality public broadcasting."

Dina Pule called the meeting because the SABC board has so many governance issues they're simply not agreeing on.

"We need to be dealing with the issues which have been playing themselves out in the media. We need to understand why we have these challenges which are there. The decision of the SABC board is that Hlaudi Motsoeneng has been removed from the acting COO position.

Meanwhile in parliament member of parliament today were abuzz with the latest massive crisis gripping the broadcaster. All agreed that there are big "challenges" at the SABC.

"The SABC is in crisis. The whole nation knows that the SABC is on fire right now and I think it's our prime responsibility to discuss what the problem is and drastically and urgently suggest remedial action," said the Democratic Alliance's Marian Shinn.

"We cannot sit here and pretend that Rome is not burning. There's a crisis at the SABC," said Congress of the People's (Cope) Juli Kilian.

BREAKING. SABC starts begging government for money (again) - this time to pay possible retrenchment packages for workers who want out.

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The SABC board and SABC board chairperson dr. Ben Ngubane was in parliament again today to report about the beleaguered public broadcaster's turnaround strategy - and to start begging for money (again). The SABC wants ''funds'' to be able to offer SABC workers who maybe wants out, severance packages.

''If we're going to be supported in our turnaround strategy we [need] appropriate funding so that we can have voluntary severance packages,'' dr. Ben Ngubane - slouching in his chair - told parliament's portfolio committee on communications this afternoon, ''so that we can actually buy pensions for people who have to retire as we restructure the organisation.''

''We should see a much better profit margin other than R12 million in the fiscal 2014,'' said dr. Ben Ngubane.

BREAKING. The ''madness of king Ngubane'': SABC chairperson takes to his own radio waves to blame the SABC board for ''paralysis''.

While the SABC's highest executive decision making branch - the SABC board and its unilateral power wielder, SABC board chairperson dr Ben Ngubane - now resembles the madness of the French court of King Louis XVI, dr Ben Ngubane usurped his own radiowaves to blast the SABC board for the South African public broadcaster's ''paralysis''.

After dr Ben Ngubane secretly and without the knowledge of the SABC board (who's task it is to make such an appointment, ordered the SABC's group CEO Solly Mokoetle to appoint Phil Molefe as the new permanent head of news) dr Ben Ngubane now has the audacity to blame the SABC board for the stench he created.

On the public broadcaster's radio station, SAfm dr Ben Ngubane yesterday blamed the SABC board on PM Live for the ''new'' protracted leadership crisis at the SABC (that he caused by being utalitarian!). Dr Ben Ngubane also confirmed the shocking news of yesterday that SABC board member Barbara Masekela has resigned. As I told you yesterday when I spoke to sources very close to the SABC board, the majority of them have basically no respect, no speaking relationship (except for board meetings) and no trust in dr Ben Ngubane anymore after he dented his credibility with the ''appointment'' of Phil Molefe which the SABC board immediately declared ''null and void''.

''There is a corporate governance crisis because we have not finalised the review of all the important policies,'' said dr Ben Ngubane, not addressing the fact that he made unilateral decisions without consulting the SABC board and blatantly flouted the SABC's corporate governance rules.

''We cannot be writing letters to management every day, threatening to fire them and expecting them to perform properly. That is what is happening now. I talk a lot to the CEO. He put on a marvellous performance during the World Cup - no board member has recognised that,'' dr Ben Ngubane said on PM Live.

ALSO READ: SABC board called to appear before parliament on Monday.
ALSO READ: ''They don't talk to him anymore.'' Massive stand-off between SABC board and chairperson dr Ben Ngubane.
ALSO READ: SABC board member Barbara Masekela resigns.

BREAKING. ''They don't talk to him anymore.'' Massive stand-off between SABC board and its chairperson Ben Ngubane.

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''The SABC no longer talks to the chairperson dr. Ben Ngubane,'' a source very close to the SABC board just told me after the shocking resignations of SABC board members Barbara Masekela and Magatho Mello.

ALSO READ: SABC board members Barbara Masekela, Magatho Mello resigns. ''The situation is completely untenable''.

''Any semblance of any kind of relationship between the SABC board and dr Ben Ngubane has broken down beyond repair,'' a source close to the SABC board with intimate knowledge of what's happening at the highest level inside the beleaguered South African public broadcaster just told me. ''They [SABC board] don't talk to him really. He's avoiding them anyway. They talk in meetings if he's there. He's banking on political intervention to save him. He's desperately trying to legitimize and illegitimate process,'' another close source told me regarding dr Ben Ngubane's unilateral ''appointment'' of Phil Molefe as the SABC's head of news - an ''appointment'' that the SABC board declared ''null and void'' but that dr. Ben Ngubane and the SABC's group CEO Solly Mokoetle refuse to reverse. ''He's [Ngubane] trying to force SABC board members to go along with what he's done and decided and the majority won't do it.''

''Phil Molefe's new RX million salary for a period of five years as the head of news according to his new contract is completely irregular expenditure by the SABC,'' a source closely connected to the SABC board tells me. I have asked and I'm awaiting comment from the SABC on this.

BREAKING. SABC board members Barbara Masekela and Magatho Mello resigns; more board resignations will definitely follow.

It's starting. I can confirm that Barbara Masekela and Magatho Mello, both SABC board member have resigned. According to sources I just spoke to, more SABC board resignations will definitely follow.

The current SABC board is completely fed up and done with the arrogant, aloof, and tainted SABC board chairperson dr Ben Ngubane and the SABC group CEO Solly Mokoetle. Business Day was first to report this morning about Barbard Masekela's resignation letter and I can absolutely confirm that she has definitely resigned along with Magatho Mello. Of course Barbara Masekela was also a former SABC board member and her resignation as well as that of Magatho Mello is sending shockwaves through the TV industry. I have asked the SABC for a response.

''Their situation is completely untenable,'' a source speaking of the SABC board and who's very close to the SABC board just told me. ''The acrimony and intense dislike of dr Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle can't be overstated. There is a massive disconnect between the majority of the SABC board and Ngubane who is trying every trick in the book to force the SABC board to accept the appointment of Phil Molefe as the head of news. They simply won't do it.'' Another source close to the SABC board tells me: ''Last year's SABC board battles will pale in comparison to what is coming now. SABC board members are not going to go quietly. It was a last resort but the SABC board is now making it clear that urgent and decisive government intervention is necessary to act upon the flagrant flouting of corporate governance by the SABC's chair.''

BREAKING. SABC's Ben Ngubane, Solly Mokoetle ''have been running this broadcaster like an unlicenced township shebeen,'' says CWU.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU), one of the three biggest trade unions within the SABC, has choice words for the highly unpopular and arrogant SABC board chairperson dr. Ben Ngubane and group CEO Solly Mokoetle saying ''These two have been running this public broadcaster like an unlicensed township shebeen,'' in a just released statement.

''. . . objective South Africans do not require specialised spectacles to see that the problem at the SABC is its CEO [Solly Mokoetle] and chairperson [Ben Ngubane] – and now of late, the dead of news [Phil Molefe] who was recently appointed under dubious circumstances,'' says the CWU.

The CWU is also asking for the SABC board to ''reverse the forceful retirement of Sue Dennison with immediate effect''.

ALSO READ: SABC shocking abuse! ''My heart is broken and in pieces,'' says Sue Dennison after SABC throws her out after failing to tell her to retire.
ALSO READ: Breaking shocker! SABC forgets to tell worker of 20 years to retire, refuses to pay Sue Dennison for two days in August, as she leaves crying.

BREAKING. Support Public Broadcasting (SOS) concerned about the ''deafening silence'' from SABC regarding head of news furore.

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Support Public Broadcasting (SOS), a massive public pressure group representing the South African TV industry says that its concerned about ''the deafening silence from the SABC'' regarding the uproar that SABC top brass created last month when Phil Molefe was unilaterally ''appointed'' as the SABC's new permanent head of news, just to have the ''appointment'' declared ''null and void'' by the SABC board.

The SABC was engulfed in another scandal last month when SABC chairperson dr. Ben Ngubane told the SABC's group CEO Solly Mokoetle to ''appoint'' Phil Molefe as the new head of news. In doing this dr. Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle blatantly flouted the SABC's corporate governance rules, since its the SABC board who has to make any such appointment official. The SOS also calls the ''appointment'' of Phil Molefe ''illegal'' and says South Africa's civil society is ''still in the dark as to what is happening with a number of critical issues''.

''This is a critical moment for the SABC - and in particular for the SABC board,'' says the SOS in a press release. ''The SABC board needs to show its mettle. SOS believes that the first step is to publically explain what is going on at the SABC,'' says the SOS. ''The World Cup can't be an excuse for inaction.''

The SOS wants the SABC to explain what actions are being taken against dr. Ben Ngubane, why dr. Ben Ngubane has not resigned and why the SABC board has not recommended to parliament that dr. Ben Ngubane be removed as SABC chairperson. The SOS also wants to know what disciplinary action is being taken against Solly Mokoetle, especially since he ''deepened the crisis at the SABC'' by again confirming that Phil Molefe is the head of news.

ALSO READ: The SABC's ''Bob and Bobo Show'': The hilarious nicknames SABC workers now have for dr. Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle.
ALSO READ: Solly Mokoetle declares he only takes orders from dr. Ben Ngubane, not the SABC board.
ALSO READ: SABC in crisis: SOS pressure group urges ''strong and immediate'' action against SABC chairperson dr. Ben Ngubane.
ALSO READ: SABC board blasts Ben Ngubane's ''appointment'' of Phil Molefe.
ALSO READ: Bemawu demands the ''immediate suspension'' of Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle.
ALSO READ: Entire SABC abuzz over new internal power struggle at the broadcaster.
ALSO READ: ''Fundamental breach of corporate governance at SABC,'' says public pressure group SOS.

BREAKING. SABC board meets with minister of communications over Ben Ngubane.

The SABC board met yesterday with the minister of communications, genl. Siphiwe Nyanda about the SABC board chairman, dr Ben Ngubane.

New scandal was unleashed at the SABC last month when dr Ben Ngubane unilaterally and flouting SABC corporate governance, told the SABC's group CEO Solly Mokoetle to ''appoint'' Phil Molefe as the SABC's new head of news. Any such appointments must be made by the SABC board who swiftly convened during an emergency meeting and declared the ''appointment'' completely ''null and void''.

I'm traveling, more in depth scoop when my feet touch the ground.

BREAKING. Minister of communications, Siphiwe Nyanda to meet with SABC board and chairman Ben Ngubane about latest SABC mess.

Genl. Siphiwe Nyanda, South Africa's minister of communications will be meeting with SABC board chairperson dr. Ben Ngubane as well as the SABC board this coming Saturday, June 12.

Simphiwe Nyanda wants to discuss with them the whole massive mess that dr. Ben Ngubane created and the new scandal he created at the SABC when he unilaterally told the SABC's group CEO, Solly Mokoetle to ''appoint'' Phil Molefe as the SABC's new head of news - only for the SABC board to overturn his shortsighted power grab and declaring it ''null and void''.

BREAKING. The SABC's ''Bob and Bobo Show'': The hilarious nicknames SABC staff now has for Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle!

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What's the most fascinating show at - or is it inside - the SABC at the moment? Say hello to The Bob and Bobo Show! I can reveal the secret nicknames of the SABC chairperson dr. Ben Ngubane and the SABC's group CEO Solly Mokoetle who has apparently become the laughing stock of a large number of staffers at the South African public broadcaster who are just shaking their heads at the daft twosome.

According to longtime SABC insiders who spilled the goss, when workers talk about the once highly-respected dr. Ben Ngubane, they now use the word ''Bob'' after Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe. I'm told it's all because of the unilateral way that dr. Ben Ngubane ordered Solly Mokoetle to ''appoint'' Phil Molefe as the new head of news - a decision the SABC board immediately recinded and declared ''null and void'' after an emergency meeting. Solly Mokoetle is apparently referred to as ''Bobo'' when workers are sharing news or a laugh about him in code talk within the corridors of Auckland Park where the walls have ears. Bobo is apparently the Bobo character from the very popular SABC1 youth drama Yizo Yizo who caused mayhem wherever he went, was somewhat out of touch with reality, faced severe temptations and is known for crazy and very erratic behaviour.

This is too crazy but true, and ranks right up there when I broke the news last year that SABC staffers were told to please drink less milk in their coffee and tea as part of cost-cutting measures at the SABC.

BREAKING. SABC's group CEO Solly Mokoetle declares that he only takes orders from Ben Ngubane, not the SABC board.

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I can tell you that the SABC's group CEO, the insipid Solly Mokoetle met with trade union leaders at the SABC earlier today where he told them in no uncertain terms that he only takes his orders directly from the SABC chairman, dr. Ben Ngubane, and only from dr. Ben Ngubane - not the SABC board.

Solly Mokoetle's brazen declaration follows his meeting on Tuesday with the shocked SABC news staff which I was first to tell about RIGHT HERE where he said that Phil Molefe is definitely the new head of news at South Africa's public broadcaster. That comes after dr. Ben Ngubane unilaterally decided and told Solly Mokoetle to ''appoint'' Phil Molefe in the position, just to have the SABC board have an emergency meeting and declare dr. Ben Ngubane's daft ''appointment'' completely ''null and void''.

Earlier today the simple Solly told trade union leaders that he ''appointed'' Phil Molefe because the bombastic dr. Ben told him to do it and that he only takes instructions from the chairperson and NOT the SABC board. Simple Solly informed trade union leaders that the bombastic dr. Ben has not yet instructed him to undo the appointment or to communicate anything else.

ALSO READ: SABC IN CRISIS: SOS urges ''immediate and strong'' reaction from SABC board against Solly Mokoetle and Ben Ngubane.
ALSO READ: SABC board blasts Ben Ngubane's ''appointment'' of Phil Molefe.
ALSO READ: Bemawu demands the ''immediate suspension'' of Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle.
ALSO READ: Entire SABC abuzz over new internal power struggle inside the public broadcaster.
ALSO READ: Fundamental breach of corporate governance at SABC, says public pressure group SOS.
ALSO READ: SABC board COMPLETELY bypassed in ''appointment'' of Phil Molefe.

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. The ''completely fed up'' SABC board now wants Ben Ngubane ''gone as soon as possible'' sources say.

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The SABC board wants public support to get rid of the SABC chairman dr. Ben Ngubane and in this fast developing story, I'm being told that is why the Support Public Broadcasting (SOS) public pressure group helped today by coming out and calling for the suddenly controversial and seemingly distant dr. Ben Ngubane to resign immediately.

Its Friday again today, so of course the SABC is mired in breaking news and major upheaval rocking Auckland Park.

Sources close to the SABC board tells me ''the SABC board is completely fed up with him[dr. Ben Ngubane]; he's turned into a massively liability overnight for what they want to try and do and his tarnished image and blatant flouting of corporate governance isn't helping them or the image of the SABC.'' According to the source, the SABC board now wants dr. Ben Ngubane ''gone as soon as possible.'' ''The public support from the SOS is now putting pressure on everyone to act. If he's not going to do the right thing and step away from his position as SABC chairman, the [SABC] board is going to find a way to get him out. They've simply had enough. He's not even communicating with them.''

ALSO READ: Support Public Broadcasting (SOS) pressure group calls for SABC chairman dr. Ben Ngubane to resign; ''no confidence in his ability to lead SABC''.
ALSO READ: On Friday the Support Public Broadcasting (SOS) pressure group will call on SABC chairman dr. Ben Ngubane to resign!

BREAKING. Support Public Broadcasting (SOS) calls on Ben Ngubane to resign; ''no confidence in his ability to lead the SABC''.

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A major developing story... I was first late last night RIGHT HERE to tell you that the Support Public Broadcasting (SOS) will be asking the SABC chairman dr. Ben Ngubane to resign and it just happened. The SOS just called on dr. Ben Nbugane "to do the honourable thing and resign".

I'm in Kampala, Uganda but more breaking news about this later today.

What I can tell you is that sources have been telling me since yesterday that there's "a major groundswell within the SABC board" as well as in the industry to get rid of dr. Ben Ngubane after he seriously compromised his integrity with the unilateral ''appointment'' of Phil Molefe, the SABC's new head of news, that the SABC board on Saturday overtuned and declared ''null and void''.

Now a lot of people want dr. Ben Ngubane gone as SABC board chairman as soon as possible. ''He's poison,'' a source told me. ''He's poisoning everything that the new SABC board is trying to do in trying to regain and rebuild credibility within the SABC.'' Another well-respected source quipped this moring: ''Dr. Ben Ngubane, admired by many has suddenly become a pariah. There's growing tension between him and the SABC board and one or the other will have to go. Chances are it's not going to be the new SABC board who did the right thing by speaking out about his flagrant disregard for the SABC's corporate governance rules and structures.''

The SOS says ''we no longer have confidence in his ability to lead the SABC through its present serious problems to build a new, vibrant, pro-democracy institution. If dr. Ben Ngubane is not prepared to do the honourbale thing and resign, then we call on parliament to hold an urgent public hearing into the matter.''

BREAKING. On Friday the Support Public Broadcasting (SOS) group will call for the resignation of dr. Ben Ngubane, SABC board chairman.

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Major development! I can tell you that the The Support Public Broadcasting (SOS) public pressure group will be asking for the resignation of dr. Ben Ngubane, the SABC board chairman.

This dramatic step by SOS comes after the very public embarrassement that the bumbling and seemingly incompetent dr. Ben Ngubane unleashed last week on the South African public broadcaster by flouting corporate governance rules at the SABC and ordering the SABC's group CEO, Solly Mokoetle to unilaterally appoint Phil Molefe as the SABC's new head of news. The SABC board convened on Saturday at an emergency SABC board meeting and overtuned the arrogant dr. Ben Ngubane's ''appointment'' who left for a conference in China.

The SOS - a massive public pressure group that represents a number of trade unions including Cosatu and Fedusa, independent producer organisations and a host of NGOs, CBOs, academics and freedom of expression activists - will now be calling for dr. Ben Ngubane to step down on Friday.

The SOS supports the decision by the SABC board to ''overturn'' his decision which he shouldn't have made in the first place, and now wants dr. Ben Ngubane gone.

BREAKING. SABC board blasts Ben Ngubane's ''appointment'' of Phil Molefe, calling it ''null and void'' with ''no legal effect''.

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The SABC board has come out guns blazing against the foolhardy, unilateral, secretive and shortsighted ''appointment'' by the SABC board chairman dr. Ben Ngubane and the SABC's group CEO Solly Mokoetle of Phil Molefe as the SABC's new head of news last week, calling the purported appointment ''null and void with no legal effect''.

The SABC board - which is the body tasked and responsible for making the appointment for this crucial position at South Africa's public broadcaster - just issued a press statement clearly indicating that the board believes that dr. Ben Ngubane has severely overstepped his boundaries and has overreached in ordering Solly Mokoetle to ''appoint'' Phil Molefe. ''The SABC board believes that the trust and credibility that needs to be restored in the SABC must start with transparent and clear rules of corporate governance''.

The SABC board reveals that 10 out of the 12 SABC board members attended yesterday afternoon's emergency board meeting [''emergency'' is my word, they call it merely ''special'']. ''After deliberating for several hours yesterday afternoon and evening, the SABC board unanimously agreed that the appointment of Phil Molefe as chief executive of news and current affairs was not legal''. The SABC board has now decided that the process of assessing candidates - which has not yet been concluded, must continue. ''The SABC board regrets any embarrassment to any of the candidates for the position,'' says the statement. ''The SABC board stands by its commitment when taking office in January to oversee the reorganisation and revival of the SABC as a national public broadcaster worthy of the people of South Africa.''

ALSO READ: ''Highly irritated'' SABC board anuls chairman Ben Ngubane's ''appointment'' of Phil Molefe amidst growing tension.
ALSO READ: Ben Ngubane might be a no-show at Saturday afternoon's emergency SABC board meeting; Solly Mokoetle is on his way to China.
ALSO READ: A defiant Ben Ngubane attacks the SABC board.
ALSO READ: Bemawu demands the ''immediate suspension'' of Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle.
ALSO READ: Entire SABC abuzz over new internal power struggle at public broadcaster.
ALSO READ: Fundamental breach of corporate governance at SABC, says public pressure group SOS.
ALSO READ: SABC board COMPLETELY bypassed in ''appointment'' of Phil Molefe as new head of news.
ALSO READ: SABC appoints Phil Molefe as new head of news.
ALSO READ: After more than a year . . . STILL no head of news at the SABC.

BREAKING. ''Highly irritated'' SABC board anuls chairman Ben Ngubane's controversial appointment of Phil Molefe amidst growing tension.

A big divide has been laid bare between the SABC board and the SABC board chairman dr. Ben Ngubane, after the SABC board came thisclose late yesterday to passing a vote of no confidence in the arrogant dr. Ben Ngubane. 

It has now become clear that there is a rift and growing tension between the SABC board and dr. Ben Ngubane who, together with the SABC group CEO Solly Mokoetle, unilaterally appointed Phil Molefe as the SABC's new head of news earlier this week. It caught the SABC board by surprise who is actually supposed to take the decision, although no such decision has been put before the SABC board.

''I'll be honest with you. We, as the SABC board has agreed to not talk about what has happened or that any press statement will be issued until further notice,'' SABC board member Suzanne Vos said to me earlier this morning. Other SABC board members who I called last night, simply didn't pick up their phones. But I still have all the information, because some were willing to talk to me.

SABC insiders tell me the SABC board is ''highly irritated'' with dr. Ben Ngubane who surprised them by blatantly overriding SABC procedure and corporate governance by unilaterally instructing Solly Mokoetle to make the Phil Molefe ''appointment''. Dr. Ben Ngubane was also a blatant no show at yesterday's SABC board meeting. I was first to tell you that that might happen, yesterday morning RIGHT HERE. The SABC board which has to approve the appointment of the SABC's head of news, declared and ruled dr. Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle's appointment of Phil Molefe nul and void, ''fighting back against one person who's apparently thinking that he's the SABC,'' according to a close source at the proceedings. The source said there's definitely ''a growing rift'' between most of the SABC board and dr. Ben Ngubane. In this row, that has now become very public.

I can also tell you that according to SABC board members there was a discussion to structurally change the SABC's news division by having the head of news and current affairs position, who will be above the positions of head of TV news, and head of radio news.

ALSO READ: Ben Ngubane might be a no-show at the afternoon's SABC emergency board meeting; Solly Mokoetle is in China.
ALSO READ: A defiant Ben Ngubane attacks the SABC board.
ALSO READ: Bemawu demands the ''immediate suspension'' of Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle.
ALSO READ: Entire SABC abuzz over new internal power struggle.
ALSO READ: Fundamental breach of corporate governance at SABC, says public pressure group SOS.
ALSO READ: SABC board COMPLETELY bypassed in appointment of Phil Molefe as head of news.
ALSO READ: SABC appoints Phil Molefe as head of news.
ALSO READ: After more than a year . . . STILL no head of news at the SABC.

BREAKING. Ben Ngubane might be a no-show at SABC board's emergency meeting this afternoon; Solly Mokoetle is leaving for China.

You're reading it here first.

I can exclusively reveal that dr. Ben Ngubane might very well be a no-show at the SABC board's urgent emergency meeting taking place late this afternoon, Saturday, 22 May, where he as SABC board chairman, has been called to. I can also reveal that Solly Mokoetle who has been asked to attend, will definitely not be there.

Dr. Ben Ngubane, together with SABC group CEO Solly Mokoetle has been called to the urgent meeting to explain themselves to the SABC board regarding their unilateral appointment of Phil Molefe as the SABC's new head of news.

I now hear dr. Ben Ngubane might not attend (A defiant Ben Ngubane just attacked the SABC board in a scathing press statement this morning.). And here's another shocker. SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago tells me that Solly Mokoetle will definitely not attend and be at the SABC board's emergency meeting. He's leaving for an official trip to China today.

An insider who will be present at today's meeting tells me it ''will be very interesting''. Another insider source who will also be present told me ''the meeting will go very late today'' and that there's uncertainty regarding ''whether Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle will be there - but it is an official meeting and as such everyone will have been invited according to official SABC board procedure.''

ALSO READ: Defiant Ben Ngubane attacks SABC board.
ALSO READ: SABC board set for an emergency meeting on Saturday afternoon.
ALSO READ: Bemawu demands ''immediate suspension'' of Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle.
ALSO READ: Entire SABC abuzz over new internal power struggle.
ALSO READ: Fundamental breach of corporate governance within SABC, says public pressure group SOS.
ALSO READ: SABC board COMPLETELY bypassed in appointment of Phil Molefe as new head of news.
ALSO READ: SABC appoints Phil Molefe as new head of news.
ALSO READ: After more than a year . . . still no head of news at the SABC.

BREAKING. Defiant SABC board chairman Ben Ngubane attacks SABC board; says ''all processes were followed''.

You're reading it here first.

An openly defiant SABC board chairperson dr. Ben Ngubane just issued a statement with a thinly veiled attack and rebuke on the SABC board for daring to question his supreme decision making power at the public broadcaster.

Saying he did nothing wrong, dr. Ben Ngubane claims in a statement released minutes ago, that there's been no breach of governance and that the SABC board shouldn't talk about ''any issues they may have'' in the public domain.

After igniting a firestorm by instructing the SABC's group CEO Solly Mokoetle to appoint Phil Molefe as the SABC's new head of news, a defiant dr. Ben Ngubane is now saying in a new statement trying to spin the whole issue in his favour, that he ''calls on all SABC board members to come to the correct forum, to address any issues they may have.''

It's very strange and spin-filled words coming from the obviously arrogant dr. Ben Ngubane who was in the first place not available yesterday on Friday. It's also ironic because both he and Solly Mokoetle have been requested by the SABC board to attend today's emergency SABC board meeting taking place later this afternoon at the SABC, and not the other way around. The SABC board is indeed using their forum to to get him to talk to them - which is what dr. Ben Ngubane should have done out of his own initiative in the first place.

In his stunning statement, filled with a very aggressive stance and seemingly touting his supreme leadership whilst trying to underscore his seemingly unilateral decision-making power at the SABC, dr. Ben Ngubane now says he ''believes all processes were followed and there was no breach of corporate governance''.

''After considering all the factors before me that necessitated the speedy finalization of this process'', he says ''I made the decision as a leader to instruct the group CEO Solly Mokoetle to finalise the appointment of Phil Molefe because he satisfied all the requirements as agreed to by all SABC board members.''

You're completely missing the point dear dr. Ben Ngubane. You might be the leader at the beleaguered public broadcaster, but you're definitely not the decision maker. The full SABC board makes the decision, and that is also how is was agreed upon originally. That is also where the word corporate governance, meaning collective leadership, comes from. Why do you have a board if you're just going to take your own decisions? And how good is your corporate governance if you can't even inform and tell them of your unilateral decisions and have them hear about what you've decided and is going on inside the SABC through the media?

ALSO READ: SABC set to convene for an emergency meeting Saturday afternoon.
ALSO READ: Bemawu demands immediate suspension of Ben Ngubane and Solly Mokoetle.
ALSO READ: Entire SABC abuzz over new internal power struggles.
ALSO READ: Fundamental breach of corporate governance within SABC, says public pressure group SOS.
ALSO READ: SABC board COMPLETELY bypassed in appointment of Phil Molefe as new head of news.
ALSO READ: SABC appoints Phil Molefe as head of news.
ALSO READ: After more than a year . . . still no head of news at the SABC.