Update: What's going on at SABC?

In our previous post about SABC, we wrote about two board members handing their resignations, deeming the board ‘dysfunctional’. Here is what has happened since:

Two more SABC board members resigned with the approval of the president Jacob Zuma. Mbulaheni Maguvhe, the chairperson, is the only non-executive member. Maguvhe affirmed he has no intentions to tender his resignations;
The inquiry led by the African National Congress (ANC) that will look into what is happening at the SABC will commence on 29 November and will continue even during the parliamentary break in December;
The 8 SABC journalists who asked for the inquiry have been threatened and asked to drop their case. The 8 journalists were fired (and later reinstated in September) after speaking out against the SABC’s decision not to show footage of violent protests. They remain resolute to carry on and testify in the inquiry but the parliament will not cover their legal costs;
Executive Hlaudi Motsoeneng spent R600 million on local TV shows against the broadcaster’s commissioning policy. The Democratic Alliance is set to file a supplementary affidavit in its court case against Motsoeneng.“In essence, the DA is asking the court to confirm that Mr Motsoeneng is unfit to hold any position at the SABC,” said the DA federal executive chairman James Selfe. “While it is not ideal to approach the courts, the DA firmly believes that the SABC board, now comprising of one member, and the Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi have failed in their duty to maintain the integrity of the national broadcaster.”;

The Public Media Alliance will continue to follow and update on the most recent developments at South Africa’s state public broadcaster.

Header Image: Sentech TV Tower in Johannesburg. Credits: South African Tourism/Creative Commons