Minister tells of Zuma's 'love' for SABC's Hlaudi

"But Baba loves him, he loves him so much. We must support him."

This is what Communications Minister Faith Muthambi is reported to have said to SABC board member Hope Zinde when the latter complained to her about the public broadcaster's boss, Hlaudi Motsoeneng. "Baba" is a term of endearment for President Jacob Zuma.

Details of Muthambi's exchange with Zinde are contained in a letter the board member wrote to parliament's portfolio committee on communications asking for urgent action to be taken to prevent the broadcaster from plunging into disarray.

The Sunday Times was shown the letter by ANC and parliamentary sources who are unhappy with what is going on at the SABC.

Muthambi's spokesman, Ayanda Hollow, declined to comment. Zinde, who was removed from the board last week, would also not comment.

Muthambi's remarks are the strongest indication so far that the SABC chief operating officer enjoys political protection from the executive.

Motsoeneng yesterday denied having close ties with Zuma.

"I don't even know who is 'Baba'," he said.

"I know all about these malicious allegations about Hlaudi being pushed by the president ... I don't know how the president can protect Hlaudi because I don't have a personal relationship with the president," said Motsoeneng.

He said he had climbed the SABC ladder on merit when managers realised he was good at his job.

"I am a performer. There is no doubt about it. When I am in charge, you can see that the car is moving. I drive the car."

Crisis to Crisis

On Motsoeneng's watch, the SABC has blundered from one crisis to the next - with executives and senior managers saying South Africa's largest media group is in disarray.

Among the examples of chaos at the SABC caused by the collapse of corporate governance under Motsoeneng are:

Removal of board members who do not support him ;

Board meetings not taking place; and

The secret amendment of the SABC's memorandum of incorporation, taking away the board's powers and giving them to Muthambi and Motsoeneng.

Board insiders said the board was "nonexistent", as most decisions were taken by Motsoeneng and signed off by the board's chairman, Mbulaheni Maguvhe.

"The corporate plan and the budget are now before parliament, but they were never approved by the board," said a board member.

Sources said those who disagreed with Motsoeneng were being sidelined.

Face the Chop

Board members Ronnie Lubisi and Rachel Kalidass are the latest to face the chop, following Zinde's potentially illegal removal from the board last week.

The three are among the board members who voted against Motsoeneng's appointment as chief operating officer.

The Sunday Times has seen correspondence in which Maguvhe refuses to call a meeting to discuss the public broadcaster's corporate plan and the controversial MultiChoice deal.

E-mail communication between board members also shows that it ignored legal advice from board member and lawyer Krish Naidoo to not challenge the DA application to have the decision to appoint Motsoeneng reversed.

Motsoeneng and Maguvhe denied undermining the board.

"The issue of Hlaudi and I running the board is not true. We have never taken decisions for the board," said Maguvhe.

The two men painted a picture of a company that is doing very well under Motsoeneng, saying it had moved from being broke to having R1-billion in the bank since he took over.

They defended the MultiChoice archives licensing deal.

"For the first time MultiChoice has invested more than R1-billion within [the SABC]," said Motsoeneng.

But insiders said MultiChoice paid only R220-million for content that was worth more than R1-billion.

Motsoeneng said MultiChoice paid triple what other broadcasters would have paid.

shobas@sundaytimes.co.za, mokoneth@sundaytimes.co.za