After much rumour and media speculation, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has announced that Lulama Mokhobo, the current group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the public broadcaster, is resigning from her post. She will vacate her position at the end of February.
The reason for Mokhobo’s departure is as yet unclear, but the SABC has stated that it was an amicable split. Zandile Tshabalala, the SABC board chairperson said, “On behalf of the board I would like to thank Ms Mokhobo for her positive contribution to the organisation over the past 24 months. The SABC would like to wish Ms. Mokhobo well in all her future endeavours.’
The minister of Communications, Yunus Carrim, after confirming that his office had been informed that the GCEO’s departure was mutually agreed between herself and the board, went on to say that his department is concerned about the public broadcaster’s stability and urged that the vacant post be filled quickly.
Word of the imminence of Mokhobo’s resignation first broke last week after a tweet by the Broadcasting, Electronic Media and Allied Workers Union, saying that she had already tendered her notice. According to TechCentral, there were numerous reports that Mokhobo had found her authority undermined on several occasions and that the senior power structure of the broadcaster had divided into two camps, with the CEO on one side and the group chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng on the other. Mokhobo may therefore have quit her post as she found it untenable.
Mokhobo had been appointed in 2012 by the former communications minister Dina Pule. The SABC’s official statement on the subject indicates that the company will recruit a replacement as soon as possible and will keep the public informed on developments in this regard.
