Share

Last 3 board chairpersons 'a disaster' - former SABC risk chief

Cape Town - A former SABC group executive for risk and governance says the last three board chairpersons have been a disaster for the public broadcaster.

Itani Tseisi, who left the broadcaster in October this year, told Parliament's ad hoc committee looking onto the fitness of the SABC board that Mbulaheni Maguvhe, Ellen Tshabalala and Ben Ngubane's tenures had paled in comparison to previous chairpersons.

"The last three chairpersons of the board, I don't know how to describe them... disaster, I think it is," he said in response to African National Congress MP Hlomane Chauke.

He said he had the privilege of joining the SABC when Vincent Maphai was chairperson between 1999 and 2003.

"You compare then to now, it's sad. It's absolutely sad."

In response to ANC MP Juli Kilian, he said company secretary Theresa Geldenhuys had failed in her duties to keep the board in check when its meetings were not quorate.

"It is the role of the company secretary to honestly advice the board if they don't quorate. If you don't, you fail in your duties."

Political interference

READ: Motsoeneng 'squatting' at SABC - former board member

He said if Geldenhuys could not advise the board that founding legislation was higher than any of the other Acts, including the Company's Act, then that was a failure.

He also said the SABC board's wheels started coming off after three members - Ronnie Lubisi, the late Hope Zinde, and Rachel Kalidass - were removed in July 2014 for protesting the decision to appoint Hlaudi Motsoeneng as permanent chief operating officer.

Responding to Democratic Alliance MP Phumzile van Damme, Tseisi said he did not know what Communications Minister Faith Muthambi's role was in her interactions with the board.

He also said political interference was one of the main causes of instability in news organisations and that he had spent much of his role investigating that prior to being suspended in May 2014.

He returned briefly in September 2016, but then left permanently in October.

The committee also interviewed former board member Krish Naidoo and former acting CEO Phil Molefe on Friday.

On Monday, the ad hoc committee will interview former SABC human resources chief Jabulani Mabaso, former technology head Sipho Masinga, former labour relations general manager Madiwe Nkosi, and four journalists representing the "SABC 8".

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 469 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 674 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.0%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.42
+0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.33
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.0%
Platinum
908.05
+1.2%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE