SOUTH African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) CEO Frans Matlala has been suspended barely five months after being appointed to take charge of the troubled public broadcaster.
“The board of the SABC today suspended with immediate effect the group chief executive officer Mr Frans Matlala pending an investigation,” the broadcaster said in a statement.
“The SABC’s group executive: news and current affairs, Mr Jimi Matthews, will be acting CEO during this time. The organisation will not comment further on this matter, until all processes are finalised.”
It remains unclear why Mr Matlala had been suspended. He could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
The move to suspend Mr Matlala is likely to raise more questions about the governance problems at the broadcaster.
The SABC has been riddled with acute financial, personnel and management troubles in recent years. Mr Matlala’s appointment in July was seen as crucial to stabilising the broadcaster, which has suffered as a result of numerous board controversies.
When he was appointed, Mr Matlala became the SABC’s 9th CEO — including those who were appointed in an acting capacity — to take charge of the broadcaster since 2009.
Several SABC CEOs resigned before their terms ended.
Mr Matlala’s appointment came almost a year-and-a-half after the former CEO Lulama Mokhobo quit just 14 months into her five-year contract amid speculation that she had a difficult working relationship with now suspended SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
Mr Motsoeneng and former chairwoman Zandile Tshabalala are believed to have both pushed for the appointment of Mr Matlala, who is a banking executive and a former consultant for the broadcaster.
Picture: SUNDAY TIMES
SOUTH African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) CEO Frans Matlala has been suspended barely five months after being appointed to take charge of the troubled public broadcaster.
“The board of the SABC today suspended with immediate effect the group chief executive officer Mr Frans Matlala pending an investigation,” the broadcaster said in a statement.
“The SABC’s group executive: news and current affairs, Mr Jimi Matthews, will be acting CEO during this time. The organisation will not comment further on this matter, until all processes are finalised.”
It remains unclear why Mr Matlala had been suspended. He could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
The move to suspend Mr Matlala is likely to raise more questions about the governance problems at the broadcaster.
The SABC has been riddled with acute financial, personnel and management troubles in recent years. Mr Matlala’s appointment in July was seen as crucial to stabilising the broadcaster, which has suffered as a result of numerous board controversies.
When he was appointed, Mr Matlala became the SABC’s 9th CEO — including those who were appointed in an acting capacity — to take charge of the broadcaster since 2009.
Several SABC CEOs resigned before their terms ended.
Mr Matlala’s appointment came almost a year-and-a-half after the former CEO Lulama Mokhobo quit just 14 months into her five-year contract amid speculation that she had a difficult working relationship with now suspended SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
Mr Motsoeneng and former chairwoman Zandile Tshabalala are believed to have both pushed for the appointment of Mr Matlala, who is a banking executive and a former consultant for the broadcaster.
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