allAfrica.com: South Africa: Board Was Gunning for Mpofu (Page 1 of 1)

Dali Mpofu's fate as group chief executive of the SABC was sealed within weeks of the new board taking office, according to a controversial memorandum at the heart of the bitter power battle between the board and management of the national broadcaster.

The memorandum, written by Khanyi Mkhonza, new board chairperson, said it was gunning for Mpofu on the grounds of "dereliction of duty", claiming he had defied the board and was leading the SABC on the path to crisis.

"The GCEO (Mpofu) is not on top of things in this (technology roadmap) and many other areas of the organisation," she wrote.

Mpofu's three-year reign now looks to be coming to an end; he was blamed for "dysfunctionality" in the organisation, including late submission of the budget to the board, poor reports from the executive, the lack of response to crucial communication and poor follow-up on board resolutions.

The board - controversially appointed by President Thabo Mbeki on January 1 - had met once, in March, before Mkhonza's letter was written, suggesting that Christine Qunta, the deputy chairperson, who had been on the previous board, may have contributed the details of Mpofu's shortcomings.

Mpofu's suspension on Wednesday has its origins in the Polokwane winds of change that ousted Mbeki.

Both Mpofu and Snuki Zikalala, the head of news, were Mbeki supporters.

After Polokwane, critics say Mpofu warmed towards the new ANC under Jacob Zuma.

But the board under Mkhonza, Qunta and at least two more presidential nominees - Gloria Serobe, the businesswoman nominated by an official from the presidency, and Bheki Khumalo, the former presidential spokesperson - had been sanctioned by the presidency and were themselves the source of disquiet among civil society groups.

That Mpofu's suspension came after an emergency meeting on the day he announced Zikalala's suspension for allegedly leaking documents to the media was no coincidence.

It merely bolstered claims by Mpofu in parliament two weeks ago that there had been executive interference from a minister.

Speculation is rife that the politician in the firing line is Essop Pahad, the minister in the presidency, whose office had a hand in nominating Serobe. Pahad, it was alleged, preferred Zikalala because he had remained loyal to the presidency after Polokwane, while Mpofu changed sides.

When the new board took office, the presidency's candidates were told within days of their appointment that Mpofu should be axed. Mpofu now faces a losing battle for his future against Mbeki's soldiers on the board.

Mkhonza was previously chairperson of the Media Development and Diversity Agency, funded by the government and which fell under control of Pahad.

Qunta was touted as a chairperson of the board, but missed out because of strong opposition despite her closeness to the presidency while on the previous board.

Khumalo was the spokesperson for Mbeki before leaving to join the private sector, and before returning to government recently with the Department of Minerals and Energy. Serobe was Pahad's choice as board member.

After the memorandum was leaked to the media - apparently not by a board member but by Zikalala - two board members spoke anonymously to the media about Mpofu's failings at the SABC, in violation of the code of conduct for board members.

In what amounts to a case of double standards, in March the board sacked Ramani Naidoo, the company secretary, for allegedly leaking documents to the media.

One board member allegedly claimed the SABC made a R200-million loss inb 2007. But, the SABC's 2006/2007 annual report shows a surplus of R184-million.

Critics believe Mpofu has given the board ammunition to question his abilities after the SABC lost the lucrative Premier Soccer League contract to rival SuperSport.

His leadership was also questioned after his failure to act despite the recommendations of external reports regarding a booing incident involving Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the deputy president, and the controversial blacklisting in which commentators critical of Mbeki were silenced by Zikalala.

According to the memorandum, Mpofu was also blamed for not filling the vacancies for a chief operating officer and a technology head.

One of Mpofu's major acts of "clear defiance" - according to the memorandum - related to the new format for SAfm, changes which the new board did not want him to make. In defiance, Mpofu went ahead.

Mkhonza also took issue with the SABC's communications team, accusing them of failing to protect the brand when Qunta asked them to follow up on Archbishop Desmond Tutu's accusation that the broadcaster was being like the SABC during apartheid times and "his master's voice".

"Matters cannot continue in this way, as the impact of the operations on the organisation is quite serious and, in view of the number of issues raised in the course of trying to do my work, I am of the view that the situation will soon reach crisis point, operationally, financially and in terms of governance," Mkhonza wrote.

As matters reached a head last week, Gab Mampone, a junior executive, was appointed acting chief executive, meaning he is now in charge of his own boss, the chief financial officer, while parliament is expected to debate the crisis in two weeks' time.

But growing discontent in the corridors of the SABC and among opposition politicians and members of civil society has already seen a groundswell of calls for an urgent solution to the crisis.

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