/ 21 January 2011

Molefe slams purge claims

Molefe Slams Purge Claims

The SABC’s head of news, Phil Molefe, whose unilateral appointment by board chairperson Ben Ngubane caused a stir last year, has broken his silence to defend himself against accusations that he kicked off 2011 by purging staff.

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  • “No one has been purged,” he said. “It is absolutely not true. What purpose would that agenda exist for?” But some South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) insiders claim he has purged the ghost of his predecessor, Snuki Zikalala, by firing Xolani Xundu, the political editor at the SABC, earlier this month. Xundu was appointed by Zikalala, who was seen as a supporter of former ­president Thabo Mbeki.

    Molefe hotly denied this. “Xundu was fired because of his failure to perform his duties. Is there any evidence that would point to a purge? These allegations should be dismissed with the contempt that they deserve.”

    Molefe said Xundu faced disciplinary action as a result of the poor coverage and handling of the ANC’s national general council (NGC) in Durban in September last year.

    An SABC commission of inquiry had been set up to investigate the coverage of the NGC and other special broadcasts and, Molefe said, on the basis of these findings, Xundu faced disciplinary proceedings and was sacked.

    He said there would be further disciplinary hearings for those found to have failed in their duties on special broadcasts. Xundu’s lawyer, Tshepo Kganane, said he would argue that his client was unfairly dismissed and had not had legal representation at his disciplinary hearing. He would take the case to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

    “Xundu at first pleaded not guilty but then he was told to plead guilty and they would come to an arrangement. He fell for it,” said Kganane. “There was an issue of poor sound at the NGC, a technical problem. Yet nobody else was charged.”

    Defiance
    Kganane said Xundu had been victimised after he refused to sack senior political correspondent Sophie Mokoena on Molefe’s orders. “Because Xolani refused to get rid of Mokoena, his relationship with Phil Molefe soured,” said Kganane. “It was downhill all the way after that. Molefe then thought up a way to fire my client.”

    Mokoena was disciplined after being accused of calling Talk Radio 702 and using a false name to bad-mouth the public broadcaster during last year’s wage strikes at the SABC. But Molefe denied he had asked Xundu to sack Mokoena.

    “The truth is he did not report to me and such a directive was never given to him,” said Molefe. “I did not say he should fire a person.” Mokoena was taken off air pending the disciplinary process.

    Xundu went to Mokoena’s disciplinary hearing to defend her. She was given a warning and is now back at work. A weekend report alleged that Aakash Bramdeo, a senior assignments editor on the TV newsdesk, was another casualty of Molefe, although Bramdeo denied this and said he had moved back to Durban to become editor of the Post newspaper.

    “I moved to Durban purely for family reasons and to take up this new post,” he said. “I had worked with Phil for years and had a good relationship with him.”
    Another alleged casualty is Amrit Manga, the former head of television news, who has been moved to the position of economics editor.

    Manga could not be reached for comment but Molefe said claims that he had sidelined him were untrue. “Amrit’s five-year contract was coming to an end. I gave him the post of economics editor, so how can I be accused of purging?” asked Molefe.

    “Anybody who doesn’t take their job seriously and doesn’t perform will be dealt with. These are just frivolous excuses to say I am purging.” Molefe’s five-year appointment caused a breakdown in the relationship between Ngubane and the SABC board. The board later formally appointed him to the post, but not before four board members had resigned over the infighting.

    This week Parliament’s communications committee began interviewing 14 candidates short-listed to replace the board members who quit. Molefe said his work had not been disrupted by the infighting sparked by his appointment. “I am putting new plans in place and everything is focused on building our newsrooms. I want to turn things around. We have to deliver on our public service mandate. It is my role to ensure the highest editorial and ethical standards are maintained.”

    Molefe said the SABC’s broadcasting mishaps would not recur. “There’ve been productions that have been messed up. The whole inauguration of the president was a disastrous production and we’ve missed broadcasting live soccer matches,” said Molefe.

    “All that will be a thing of the past. We’re here to work and serve the public. A situation can no longer be allowed where people take things lightly and don’t carry out their duties with seriousness and commitment.”