The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has expressed concern regarding the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) appointment of senior positions within the Africa Channel Division, indecisiveness on the findings and recommendations of the Auditor’s General financial report and the delay in the appointment of a permanent SABC Head of News.
“These latest goings and developments at the SABC resemble a continuation of the abuse of the SABC to solicit loyalty and dispense patronage for narrow, self-centred and sectarian agenda’s by the powers that be at the SABC,’ states Matankana Mothapo, CWU National Spokesperson.
“We call on the SABC Board to move with speed in implementing the recommendations emanating from the Auditor General’s report by putting an end on the jobs reservations for pals, stopping the rot and corruption at the Africa Channel division and (to) appoint a permanent and sober Head of News.
“The Head of News must be someone that understands the political economy and developmental agenda of our country, with a particular biasness to the working class and the poor who are the majority viewers of SABC. The failure by the SABC Board to heed this call, a new and re-invented “Smuts Ngonyama’ evil hand will undermine the internal Board process which is democratic and representative.’
The CWU also ciriticised the Group Chief Excecutive Officer, Solly Mokoetle, for “not leading from the front’.
“The CWU fully supports the new Board towards its mammoth task of cleansing and rebuilding the SABC as a truly public broadcaster without any political manipulation and influence.’
