Dali Mpofu's fate as group chief executive of the SABC was sealed within weeks of the new board taking office, according to a controversial memorandum at the heart of the bitter power battle between the board and management of the national broadcaster.
The memorandum, written by Khanyi Mkhonza, new board chairperson, said it was gunning for Mpofu on the grounds of "dereliction of duty", claiming he had defied the board and was leading the SABC on the path to crisis.
"The GCEO (Mpofu) is not on top of things in this (technology roadmap) and many other areas of the organisation," she wrote.
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Mpofu's three-year reign now looks to be coming to an end; he was blamed for "dysfunctionality" in the organisation, including late submission of the budget to the board, poor reports from the executive, the lack of response to crucial communication and poor follow-up on board resolutions.
'There had been executive interference from a minister' The board - controversially appointed by President Thabo Mbeki on January 1 - had met once, in March, before Mkhonza's letter was written, suggesting that Christine Qunta, the deputy chairperson, who had been on the previous board, may have contributed the details of Mpofu's shortcomings.
Mpofu's suspension on Wednesday has its origins in the Polokwane winds of change that ousted Mbeki.
Both Mpofu and Snuki Zikalala, the head of news, were Mbeki supporters.
After Polokwane, critics say Mpofu warmed towards the new ANC under Jacob Zuma.
But the board under Mkhonza, Qunta and at least two more presidential nominees - Gloria Serobe, the businesswoman nominated by an official from the presidency, and Bheki Khumalo, the former presidential spokesperson - had been sanctioned by the presidency and were themselves the source of disquiet among civil society groups.
'Matters cannot continue in this way' That Mpofu's suspension came after an emergency meeting on the day he announced Zikalala's suspension for allegedly leaking documents to the media was no coincidence.
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