On 11 April the Communication Workers Union of South Africa (CWU), an affiliate of Cosatu, released the following statement in response to Phili Molefe, Group Executive of News and Current Affairs: South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) being put on special leave.
The statement reads: CWU welcomes the decision taken by SABC Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Ms Lulama Mokhobo to put Group Executive of News and Current Affairs, Mr Phill Molefe on special leave.
Mr Phill Molefe has a track record of been extremely hostile to trade union movements and of being biased in terms of broadcasting. This is what we and other progressive organisations have been raising about the manipulation of the SABC newsroom by senior people at the SABC.
CWU is also very worried about the negative publicity of SABC that is leaked by bitter people, senior and former managers together with board members and we suspect that all of these are because of tenders that are not given to them and their friends. We have been raising this matter that they are some senior staff members and board members of the SABC who are conniving with factionalist to destroy the SABC and certain progressive individuals.
Some of these people failed the SABC with their Masters Degrees to the extent that they were removed. We are also following the reports that there are some of the board members that have been exerting undue pressure to obtain tenders which will benefit them as individuals.
We urge the Minister of Communications to investigate thoroughly the leaks of confidential information to the media by some SABC board members and senior managers.
