More executive turmoil at SABC

Cape Town – Crises continue to engulf the South African public broadcaster as the group chief financial officer (CFO) Gugu Duda received a letter on Wednesday asking her to give reasons as to why she shouldn't be suspended, while the SABC has already suspended its acting head of procurement, Nompilo Dlamini.

The possible axing of further top-level executives from the struggling broadcaster comes in the wake of the chairperson of the SABC board, Dr Ben Ngubane, admitting to parliament that the SABC board has "degenerated into serious dysfunctionality" as the SABC tries to get rid of a board member.

The SABC board wants Cawekazi Mahlati suspended after a vote of no confidence as the SABC has to prepare for multiple public mass demonstrations – the Inkatha Freedom Party is planning a protest march against the SABC on Friday and trade union Mwasa plans public picketing at the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters on Wednesday, 19 September.

Widespread corruption

The SABC board told parliament on Tuesday that Duda was allegedly responsible for financial irregularities.

This comes as parliament's portfolio committee for communications on Wednesday blasted the South African public broadcaster for what it called the SABC's "half-cooked" skills audit.

The committee heaped scorn on the SABC's apparent tardiness to implement the multiple findings of the auditor-general's recommendations which found widespread corruption at the corporation in 2009.

The SABC also revealed that Nompilo Dlamini, the acting head of procurement was suspended last week. SABC CEO Lulama Mokhobo told parliament that Duda is to receive a letter on Wednesday in which she has to give reasons as to why she should not be suspended immediately.

The SABC board has been ordered back to parliament on Tuesday, 18 September, to face a further grilling on the ongoing instability at the public broadcaster.

"The SABC can confirm that the head of procurement has been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing," said the SABC.