ANTHONY Butler unfortunately misinterpreted the rumour mill in his column (Little kings rule alike in splendid, quiet towers, July 29). It is not Hlaudi Motsoeneng who is rumoured to have been approached to take over Max Price’s job as vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town, but the other way around.
Price is rumoured to have been asked to consider taking the SABC leadership as he has declined a salary increase in 2016 and persuaded his senior executive to accept a 3% increase in view of the austerity circumstances facing universities due to underfunding by the state.
SABC insiders believe such an example would address the public protector’s criticism of the chief operating officer’s excessive personal salary hikes. In behind-the-scenes negotiations with Price, hard-pressed journalists have also indicated their hope that as with UCT’s academics (including Butler), their salaries might also be pegged at the upper 75 percentile of the market, while maintaining the CEO’s salary at the midpoint despite the university (and, hopefully, one day also the broadcaster) being top-rated among its peers on the continent.
They also hope that he would continue to donate 10% of his income to support the development of local content, in place of his current support of student financial aid.
Having noted Price’s tolerance of academics speaking out critically of the university and himself, none having ever been gagged or disciplined or even censured (Butler’s contribution as a public intellectual and columnist is quite secure), SABC insiders said they thought the vice-chancellor would be able to address the climate of fear that prevails in the institution’s newsrooms.
As indicated by Butler, discussions also addressed questions of freedom of speech and the right to broadcast violent protests, with SABC journalists interrogating Price about the basis of the university’s withdrawal of the lecture invitation to Flemming Rose.
It appears the SABC board may have been put off by Price’s insistence he would not make such decisions alone, but only in consultation with his executive and the board, and that they would have to share responsibility for the decisions and their consequences. This may be why he has not heard from them again.
Gerda Kruger
UCT spokesperson
Max Price. Picture: THE TIMES
ANTHONY Butler unfortunately misinterpreted the rumour mill in his column (Little kings rule alike in splendid, quiet towers, July 29). It is not Hlaudi Motsoeneng who is rumoured to have been approached to take over Max Price’s job as vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town, but the other way around.
Price is rumoured to have been asked to consider taking the SABC leadership as he has declined a salary increase in 2016 and persuaded his senior executive to accept a 3% increase in view of the austerity circumstances facing universities due to underfunding by the state.
SABC insiders believe such an example would address the public protector’s criticism of the chief operating officer’s excessive personal salary hikes. In behind-the-scenes negotiations with Price, hard-pressed journalists have also indicated their hope that as with UCT’s academics (including Butler), their salaries might also be pegged at the upper 75 percentile of the market, while maintaining the CEO’s salary at the midpoint despite the university (and, hopefully, one day also the broadcaster) being top-rated among its peers on the continent.
They also hope that he would continue to donate 10% of his income to support the development of local content, in place of his current support of student financial aid.
Having noted Price’s tolerance of academics speaking out critically of the university and himself, none having ever been gagged or disciplined or even censured (Butler’s contribution as a public intellectual and columnist is quite secure), SABC insiders said they thought the vice-chancellor would be able to address the climate of fear that prevails in the institution’s newsrooms.
As indicated by Butler, discussions also addressed questions of freedom of speech and the right to broadcast violent protests, with SABC journalists interrogating Price about the basis of the university’s withdrawal of the lecture invitation to Flemming Rose.
It appears the SABC board may have been put off by Price’s insistence he would not make such decisions alone, but only in consultation with his executive and the board, and that they would have to share responsibility for the decisions and their consequences. This may be why he has not heard from them again.
Gerda Kruger
UCT spokesperson
