Minister to meet board over SABC row

Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda has adopted a wait-and-see attitude in the latest SABC row over the appointment of head of news Phil Molefe.

The SABC board on Saturday rescinded Molefe's appointment, made three days previously by the public broadcaster's chairman, Ben Ngubane.

Nyanda's spokesman, Tiyani Rikhotso, said the minister would not comment until he had met the board and other stakeholders at the SABC.

''The minister will make himself available once a request from the board arrives at his office," Rikhotso said.

Insiders at the SABC told The Times that the broadcaster's group CEO, Solly Mokoetle, was also under fire from the board, after he ''failed to deliver" on promises made when he was appointed.

The Sunday Times reported yesterday on the board's resolution to reverse Molefe's appointment.

Opposition parties joined the fray and called on Ngubane to explain Molefe's appointment.

The IFP said it wanted assurances that Molefe's appointment ''was not a political move".

''Reports that Molefe was appointed under illegitimate and irregular circumstances is of great concern to the IFP," said spokesman Musa Zondi.

The DA said it would write to Parliament's portfolio committee on communications to ask that the SABC board be summoned to appear urgently before the committee to account for the events of the past four days.

DA spokesman Lindiwe Mazibuko said: "If reports about Molefe's appointment are accurate, then it is clear that due process has not been followed."

The controversy became public after board member Pippa Green said that Molefe's appointment was ''not approved" by the board.

Ngubane defended the appointment, saying that Molefe ''satisfied all requirements for the position, as agreed to by the board".

According to the Sunday Independent, Ngubane snubbed an emergency board meeting scheduled for Saturday to discuss the matter.

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said he could not comment because he was expecting a briefing on Saturday's meeting, after which a media statement would released.