South Africa’s Minister of Communications Siphiwe Nyanda has signaled his intention to meet with the board of public broadcaster SABC on the controversial appointment of Phil Molefe as head of news.
The appointment was made last week by SABC chair Dr Ben Ngubane and GCEO Solly Mokoetle without prior consultation with the SABC board. Ten out of 12 board members have since found the appointment to be null and void as they maintain Ngubane did not follow proper procedures.
On 1 June Mokoetle defied the board and introduced Molefe to SABC news staff as their new head.
According to Mail & Guardian, a spokesperson for Nyanda said that the minister was concerned about the situation and appealed for calm and restraint. He also appealed to board members not to speak to the press individually.
