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SABC boss calls it quits

Johannesburg - The SABC has confirmed that group chief executive officer Lulama Mokhobo will be leaving the broadcaster for “personal and confidential” reasons, reported City Press on Monday.

It was not clear from the statement whether the broadcaster’s first female CEO jumped or was pushed. Either way, the decision will need to be approved by the president.

The SABC’s statement comes after a week of fierce speculation that Mokhobo was throwing in the towel after two years at the helm of the public broadcaster because of having her decisions repeatedly undermined.

Yet the move also comes ahead of the release of a potentially damning public protector report on mismanagement at the SABC, titled The Blame Game.

As reported in City Press, Mokhobo has been implicated in the Public Protector’s investigation into the SABC – although it is Motsoeneng who faces far harsher recommended disciplinary action than her in the provisional report.

The Blame Game

A final version of The Blame Game is due out “very soon” according to Public Protector spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi.

The report recommends disciplinary action against Mokhobo “for her abuse of power and improper conduct in the appointments and salary increments” of Motsoeneng and his associate, Sully Motsweni.

The SABC’s statement said that Mokhobo “will be leaving the organisation at the end of February 2014”.

The SABC board and Mokhobo “have amicably agreed to part ways,” said the statement, thanking Mokhobo for her term.

It also quotes Communications Minister Yunus Carrim, saying: “We are informed that this was a mutually agreed separation, and accepted by the board.

Stability at the SABC

"Obviously, we are concerned about stability at the SABC and urge that the vacant senior posts be filled as soon as possible.”

According to unconfirmed reports from sources at the SABC, City Press believes that Mokhobo on Friday negotiated the terms of her resignation at a board meeting.

She is believed to have asked to be paid out for her full five-year term.

Mokhobo’s resignation leaves the SABC without a single permanent senior executive in office, only acting executives.

It’s a matter that raises concern for industry bodies and the public, said the SOS Coalition’s Sekoetlane Phamodi. SOS fights for a healthy public broadcaster and is allied with the Right to Know campaign and Cosatu as well as the industry.

A  rudderless SABC

“We cannot accept her resignation,” Phamodi told City Press.

“It will leave the SABC rudderless. We also cannot accept the culture of resignations being followed by hefty payouts. A resignation means you have failed. This means we are rewarding failure.”

Phamodi said that SOS “will be convening a public meeting to figure out how to reclaim our public broadcaster. We will also be calling for mass public action.”

 - City Press

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