By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The SABC has established a special committee to investigate allegations of editorial interference against its Group CEO and board chairperson.
SABC News editor-in-chief Phathiswa Magopeni levelled the allegations against SABC board chairperson Bongumusa Makhathini and Group CEO Madoda Mxakwe last year.
“A Special Committee of the Board has been established to deal with the allegations against the Chairperson fairly and expeditiously. The grievance against the GCEO (Group CEO) will be dealt with in terms of SABC employment and disciplinary policies,” the board said in a statement.
The special committee will investigate the allegations to determine whether they “constitute a prima facie act of misconduct” and make recommendations to the SABC board on the steps to be taken.
The statement read: Should misconduct be proved, the Board is bound in terms of the Broadcasting Act to report the matter to the appointing body. In the interests of procedural and substantive fairness and respecting the rights of all the parties involved, the Board will not be doing a running commentary on the grievance process. We trust that the public and interested parties will allow due process to be followed. The SABC Board remains committed to transparency and upholding the rule of law.
In December, Magopeni was issued with a written warning after being found guilty of failing to stop the broadcast of an interdicted Special Assignment episode.
She was charged after the episode was erroneously aired. During three days of hearings, Magopeni said the episode was on the video entertainment platform and she could not authorise that it be removed from the system.
SABC has since asked Magopeni to submit a mitigation argument for the case, despite it being concluded in December.