Suspended CEO ready to take SABC to High Court
by Thinus Ferreira,
2015-11-20 17:44:21.0
THE South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC’s) suspended CEO, Frans Matlala, has warned that he is ready to take the public broadcaster to court if his suspension is not lifted by Tuesday.
Barely four months after appointing its next CEO, Mr Matlala has warned the SABC in a lawyer’s letter that his suspension must be lifted by Tuesday. Mr Matlala is the embattled SABC’s ninth CEO since 2009.
He was suspended suddenly by the SABC, which gave no reasons for the suspension, although he is fighting back, with his legal representative revealing and refuting the SABC’s reasons for his suspension.
Through his lawyer, Joe Mothibi of Norton Rose Fulbright, Mr Matlala wrote to the SABC on November 17 demanding that he be reinstated as CEO by this coming Tuesday. If this doesn’t happen, Mr Matlala plans to take the SABC to the high court.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago did not respond to a media enquiry made on Thursday seeking comment and clarification on Mr Matlala’s letter.
Mr Matlala’s lawyer told the SABC that the public broadcaster did not follow the correct legal process.
"Our client views your conduct to be unreasonable, unlawful and not in the best interest of the SABC," his lawyer told the SABC.
While the SABC’s chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, has not been suspended, almost two years since the public protector’s report implicated him in gross maladministration and abuse of power, Mr Matlala has been barred from the SABC after just four months.
Mr Matlala said he was helping the Treasury who asked for his support with an investigation into the R40m new SABC studio ordered by Mr Motsoeneng and which was never put out to tender.
The new SABC studio worth R39,380,000 (excluding VAT) was quickly constructed for use in Rugby World Cup coverage and for use by the SABC News (DStv 404) channel.
Mr Motsoeneng — currently himself the subject of an upcoming disciplinary hearing and who last month went on a "voluntary leave of absence" without being suspended — admitted that the SABC studio contract, given to Vision View Productions, never went out to tender as it was supposed to.
According to Mr Matlala, the SABC’s chairman, Mbulaheni Obert Maguvhe, ordered him on November 11 to stop helping the Treasury with the investigation into the SABC studio procurement process.
It is not clear why the SABC chairman would allegedly prevent a SABC CEO from helping with a Treasury investigation.
Mr Matlala said he was given no chance to make any representation before he was abruptly served his suspension letter, and that he was suspended after Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi gave the green light for his suspension.
He said the gutted SABC board, which had six vacant seats following resignations and firings, did not have a quorum to suspend him or to start disciplinary proceedings against him.
Mr Matlala said he wrote directly to President Jacob Zuma to apologise for the "embarrassment" caused by the SABC earlier this month when it tweeted "WHAT.THE.F-!!!" after reports over a R4bn jet to be procured for the president.
Mr Matlala said SABC policy and his contract stated he was the main point of contact between the public broadcaster and the government. Yet his suspension included a charge that he was allegedly "not authorised" to be in contact with Mr Zuma.
* Thinus Ferreira is Channel24’s television expert
Fin24
Suspended SABC CEO, Frans Matlala. Picture: GALLO IMAGES / DAILY SUN / LUCKY MAIBI.
THE South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC’s) suspended CEO, Frans Matlala, has warned that he is ready to take the public broadcaster to court if his suspension is not lifted by Tuesday.
Barely four months after appointing its next CEO, Mr Matlala has warned the SABC in a lawyer’s letter that his suspension must be lifted by Tuesday. Mr Matlala is the embattled SABC’s ninth CEO since 2009.
He was suspended suddenly by the SABC, which gave no reasons for the suspension, although he is fighting back, with his legal representative revealing and refuting the SABC’s reasons for his suspension.
Through his lawyer, Joe Mothibi of Norton Rose Fulbright, Mr Matlala wrote to the SABC on November 17 demanding that he be reinstated as CEO by this coming Tuesday. If this doesn’t happen, Mr Matlala plans to take the SABC to the high court.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago did not respond to a media enquiry made on Thursday seeking comment and clarification on Mr Matlala’s letter.
Mr Matlala’s lawyer told the SABC that the public broadcaster did not follow the correct legal process.
"Our client views your conduct to be unreasonable, unlawful and not in the best interest of the SABC," his lawyer told the SABC.
While the SABC’s chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, has not been suspended, almost two years since the public protector’s report implicated him in gross maladministration and abuse of power, Mr Matlala has been barred from the SABC after just four months.
Mr Matlala said he was helping the Treasury who asked for his support with an investigation into the R40m new SABC studio ordered by Mr Motsoeneng and which was never put out to tender.
The new SABC studio worth R39,380,000 (excluding VAT) was quickly constructed for use in Rugby World Cup coverage and for use by the SABC News (DStv 404) channel.
Mr Motsoeneng — currently himself the subject of an upcoming disciplinary hearing and who last month went on a "voluntary leave of absence" without being suspended — admitted that the SABC studio contract, given to Vision View Productions, never went out to tender as it was supposed to.
According to Mr Matlala, the SABC’s chairman, Mbulaheni Obert Maguvhe, ordered him on November 11 to stop helping the Treasury with the investigation into the SABC studio procurement process.
It is not clear why the SABC chairman would allegedly prevent a SABC CEO from helping with a Treasury investigation.
Mr Matlala said he was given no chance to make any representation before he was abruptly served his suspension letter, and that he was suspended after Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi gave the green light for his suspension.
He said the gutted SABC board, which had six vacant seats following resignations and firings, did not have a quorum to suspend him or to start disciplinary proceedings against him.
Mr Matlala said he wrote directly to President Jacob Zuma to apologise for the "embarrassment" caused by the SABC earlier this month when it tweeted "WHAT.THE.F-!!!" after reports over a R4bn jet to be procured for the president.
Mr Matlala said SABC policy and his contract stated he was the main point of contact between the public broadcaster and the government. Yet his suspension included a charge that he was allegedly "not authorised" to be in contact with Mr Zuma.
* Thinus Ferreira is Channel24’s television expert
Fin24
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