By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SABC Head of News Phathiswa Magopeni has been found guilty after her disciplinary hearing of failing to prevent the broadcast of an interdicted episode of special assignment programme.
Magopeni was facing three charges which included failure to discharge her fiduciary duties as well as bringing the public broadcaster into disrepute.
The charges related to the airing of an interdicted Special Assignment programme. An internal disciplinary hearing chaired by Advocate Nazeer Cassim, found that she was guilty on only one of the three charges.
During the three days of hearings in Sandton, she argued the show was aired because of a coding error.
In a written verdict on Thursday, the head of her disciplinary hearing, advocate Cassim, said Magopeni didn’t understand her role at the public broadcaster.
“The content of the program [sic] belonged to her department, and her written responses both of the 3 and 19 November 2021 demonstrated a lack of understanding of her role in the sphere of accountability and corporate governance.”
Magopeni had argued that the show was on the video entertainment platform, and she could not authorise that it be removed from the system.
Cassim ruled that there was no evidence to suggest that Magopeni deliberately defied an order of the court. He recommended the Group Executive of News and Current Affairs be given a warning.
The SABC has declined to comment stating it’s an internal process,while Magopeni’s lawyers have confirmed they received the ruling and her fate now lies in the hands of the public broadcaster’s board.