COMMUNICATIONS Minister Faith Muthambi and the SABC board have been summoned to Luthuli House, the ANC’s Johannesburg headquarters, to explain the chaos at the public broadcaster after the suspension of journalists, resignations and unprocedural changes in editorial policy.
But it remains to be seen whether the ANC national executive subcommittee on communications can enforce its will on Muthambi, who enjoys President Jacob Zuma’s unwavering support.
Yesterday, subcommittee chairperson Jackson Mthembu vowed the party would exert its control over Muthambi on Monday, when she is expected to account to it.
“We can’t allow our constitution to be messed up. We can’t allow ANC policy to be contravened, and that’s why we are meeting with the minister on Monday on this issues.”
This comes as the tide appeared to be turning against chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, with the SACP expected today to join a coalition of civil society organisations picketing outside SABC offices demanding the reinstatement of suspended journalists.
The growing backlash against Motsoeneng has also left the ANC nervous about the role of the public broadcaster in the local government elections. In a hard-hitting and sometimes angry display, Mthembu effectively threw the book at the broadcaster’s strongman, Motsoeneng, and distanced the ruling party from his leadership at the SABC, saying he was not representing the ANC.
He also questioned the role played by the SABC’s pliant board in the continuing crisis. Motsoeneng, who reportedly also enjoys Zuma’s support, has been accused of running the SABC like a fiefdom and squashing dissenting voices, threatening his subordinates to toe the line or leave the public broadcaster.
But Mthembu sought to draw a line in the sand yesterday, indicating in no uncertain terms that the ANC was not happy about what was happening at the SABC.
He effectively accused Motsoeneng of having no respect for South Africa’s constitution, saying some of the policies he had enforced bordered on censorship and were in contravention of the country’s supreme law.
“We want people who are qualified to lead the SABC. You can’t bring any Tom, Dick and Harry to run such an institution.
“We are not happy with the expertise that the SABC has at its highest level. No wonder you get such decisions being made,” Mthembu said.
Motsoeneng was found by the public protector to have lied about his qualifications, and is woefully underqualified to lead a major public institution. His permanent appointment to his post was also found to be irrational and unlawful, and is still the subject of a court challenge.
Motsoeneng, who is said to rule the SABC by decree despite the nominal existence of a board and a string of short stints of chief executives, has defended his decision not to show footage of violent protests on TV, but Mthembu said the “unintelligent” decision was taken without consulting the ANC.
“This is worrying as it amounts to changing a policy position of the governing party,” he said.
“If somewhere midstream you want to change policy, and you don’t consult with us, that shows scant regard for the governing party.”
Mthembu said the ruling party was still waiting for the turnaround strategy from Muthambi. “That turnaround must include people with expertise and who are knowledgeable to run such an institution at managerial level.”
Meanwhile, former Cosatu boss Zwelinzima Vavi and renowned poet Mzwakhe Mbuli were due to debate the saga around the SABC with Mpho Tsedu on the SABC’s Question Time at 5pm today.