At a meeting held with the Television Industry Emergency Coalition (TVIEC) in Johannesburg on 25 January, new Group CEO of public broadcaster SABC Solly Mokoetle committed to resolve the ongoing issues crippling the independent production sector.
These include addressing the broadcaster’s debts to producers, the operational blockages at the SABC Content Hub stalling payments, the hold-off on commissions, the contentious Asset Register (which requires producers to deliver every item used for a production to the SABC’s warehouse before final payment), and the fact that productions can only be insured through the SABC’s bulk insurance deal.
Mokoetle has committed to meeting with the TVIEC once a month. To fast track matters Mokoetle re-ignited an operations committee that will meet with the TVIEC twice a month to unpack problems, escalating those which cannot be solved up to the monthly meeting with the GCEO.
The TVIEC’s Desiree Markgraaff described the meeting as very encouraging. "Right from the beginning, Mr Mokoetle set a different tone to the meetings we’ve had with the SABC over the past five years. He and the executives present seemed committed to addressing problems and more importantly addressing the fundamental issues that have led to this crisis and breakdown".
Read more in the February 2010 issue of Screen Africa
