The board of public broadcaster SABC has announced that it will not be renewing the contract of controversial head of News and Current Affairs, Dr Snuki Zikala, when it expires at the end of the month.
Board chairperson Kanyi Mknoza, while acknowledging Zikala’s contribution, said the board felt it was time to hand over the baton to “someone who can bring fresh ideas to the broadcaster”. In the meantime, veteran journalist Phil Molefe will act as Head of news and Current Affairs with effect from 1 May.
Other changes within the news division include the closure of at least three news bureaux – Jamaica, Kinshasa and reducing the US bureau to two.
The board is also reviewing the appointment of the COO (a post that has been vacant since 2007) and has accordingly referred the matter back to the Acting Minister of Communications, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. In the meantime the board continues its search for a suitable candidate for the Group Chief Executive Officer (replacing the ousted Dali Mpofu) with the advert extended till end of May.
As a means of improving efficiencies within the corporation, the board has reduced the committees of the board to six. These will be able to accommodate all business units and activities of the organisation. These committees include the legislated content committees such as: Public Broadcasting Services and News; Public Commercial Services; Audit and Risk; Finance, Investment and Procurement; Governance, Nominations and Remuneration as well as Group Executive Committee (at an operational level). The board has also established the Ad Hoc Committee on the FIFA 2010 World Cup. This will be buttressed by an additional committee to give more focus to the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) issues.
The board remains concerned about the state of finances of the corporation. It will work around the clock to ensure that the Turnaround Strategy announced a few weeks ago bears some fruit. Accordingly, the board received a briefing from the CFO Rob Nicholson about the state of finances of the organisation. “We continue to monitor this on an ongoing basis with a view to returning the organisation to a healthy financial position,” said Mkonza.
In another matter, the board has taken exception to and condemned unreservedly the actions of some SABC members who have leaked information about the organisation to the media. A statement from the board reads: “The Sunday Independent, in particular, has become a convenient outlet for these elements, though it is fully within its rights to publish what it wishes, within the law. We have requested internal audit to conduct a thorough investigation and even to refer these misdemeanors on the part of SABC members to relevant law enforcement authorities. These leaks, indulged in recklessly and often feeding false material, damage the reputation of individuals as well as that of the SABC. The leaks run counter to the collegiate and collective spirit of an organisation such as the SABC, and endanger stability.”
