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SA: SABC ANC infighting – Phosa denies seeing ‘documents’

WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.

Original Post Date: 2008-05-09 Time: 00:00:00  Posted By: Jan

[Whatever! As if I care. Jan]

By Sibusiso Ngalwa and Lee Rondganger

Embattled SABC head of news Snuki Zikalala was apparently suspended after he showed key company documents to ANC treasurer Mathews Phosa.

This is understood to be the reason why the now suspended group CEO, Dali Mpofu, acted against him.

The Star has learnt that Zikalala showed Phosa an SABC document relating to former Lesedi FM current affairs executive Hlaudi Motsoeneng, who Zikalala fired last year.

However, Phosa on Wednesday vehemently denied ever seeing or receiving any SABC document from Zikalala.

“Mr Zikalala showed me no documents. I’ve never exchanged any documents with him, not one document – poor guy, shame he’s never shared any documents with me,” said Phosa.

Apparently Motsoeneng was fired for making appointments without following procedure, while his education qualifications had also been brought into question.

Mpofu suspended Zikalala on Tuesday afternoon for alleged serious misconduct, which he later said related to the leaking of company documents to a third party.

But Mpofu denied that the documents involved the leaked internal memo – penned by board chairperson Khanyisile Mkhonza – that criticised his performance.

Mpofu – who suspended Zikalala without informing the board – was also suspended on Wednesday morning for, among other things, his “alleged refusal and/or failure to abide and implement decisions of the board”.

Mpofu had told The Star that his suspension was part of a “revenge” plot by the board and said he would “consider my options”.

It has been learnt that Mpofu had asked Zikalala to rehire Motsoeneng – a request which Zikalala refused.

When the two men failed to agree, Zikalala is said to have approached Mkhonza to intervene – a move which angered Mpofu.

It is unclear why Zikalala had shown the documents to Phosa, although those sympathetic to Zikalala said the documents were “public documents” which had already been produced in court – when Motsoeneng challenged his dismissal.

Zikalala and Mpofu were not available for comment on Wednesday night, and nor was Mkhonza.

However, Mkhonza – following her meeting on Wednesday with 14 members of the SABC management – announced the appointment of Gabriel Mampone, the SABC’s commercial enterprises group executive – as acting CEO.

She also pointed out that Mpofu’s suspension would not affect the broadcaster’s daily operations.

The full board of the SABC was expected to meet with the group’s executive committee today to further discuss Mpofu’s suspension.

Wednesday’s meeting came after SABC executives sympathetic to Mpofu sent a memo to the board expressing their shock at the CEO’s suspension.

According to sources, Mkhonza came across like a schoolteacher who chastised the executives, telling them that they had individual contracts and were not judged as “a collective”.

The meeting ended abruptly without any resolutions being taken because Mkhonza had other meetings to attend.

While it had been speculated that the board wanted to reinstate Zikalala, it has been learnt that the charges levelled against him by Mpofu would be investigated.

The developments at the SABC are closely associated with the internal fights within the ANC for control of the broadcaster following accusations by factions within the ruling party that the SABC took sides in the leadership battle.

It is understood that the board, which is considered to be close to President Thabo Mbeki, favours Zikalala while Mpofu has now switched allegiance and is close to the new ANC leadership under Jacob Zuma.

    • Source: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=vn20080508054254351C927312