Business Day reports that South African Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri has claimed that the suspensions of SABC Group CEO Dali Mpofu and head of news Snuki Zikalal, which were both implemented on 7 May, are not linked.
Meanwhile, the public broadcaster’s senior management, under acting Group CEO Gab Mampone, is reportedly trying to cope with the public relations damage caused by the suspensions.
Mpofu suspended Zikalala just before he himself was suspended by the board, which itself is in danger of being dissolved. There has been much media speculation that the SABC’s current woes are the indirect result of allegiances to different factions of the ANC ruling party. The SABC has long since had a reputation for being a government mouthpiece.
Latest speculation is that chairperson of the SABC board, Kanyisiew Mkonza wanted to replace Mpofu with Zikalala.
Parliament is to debate on a vote of no confidence in the SABC board shortly. However, only President Thabo Mbeki himself has the power to dissolve the board.
