Conflicting reaction on acting SABC CEO’s resignation – welcomed and ‘long overdue’

Difference of opinion, where would South Africa be if it was censored? Many fingers point to the South African Broadcasting Corporation, where recent decisions of what can and can’t be shown as per COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s taste comes under fire. In the aftermath acting CEO Jimi Matthews resigned. The Right2Know campaign welcomed his decision while the Forum of Journalists for Transformation said it was ‘long overdue’. – Stuart Lowman

By Jeanette Chabalala

Johannesburg – The Right2Know campaign on Monday welcomed the resignation of acting SABC CEO Jimi Matthews.

“The stormy departure of someone as senior as the CEO is telling of just how bad things have become at the broadcaster, and it shows that public opposition to COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng is gaining momentum,” the R2K said in a statement.

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Matthews said recent changes at the broadcaster were wrong and he had compromised his values under the current leadership.

He posted a picture of his resignation letter on Twitter on Monday morning. It was addressed to SABC board chair Mbulaheni Maguvhe. “For many months I have compromised the values that I hold dear under the mistaken belief that I could be more effective inside the SABC than outside, passing comment from the side-lines,” he wrote.

The “corrosive atmosphere” had negatively affected his moral judgement, and made him complicit in decisions he “was not proud of”.

Read also: Herbst: The Rise and Rise of Hlaudi Motsoeneng – “Insulting the struggle”

The broadcaster has faced increasing criticism following Motsoeneng’s decision last month to no longer show footage of violent protests. He argued that showing the destruction of property would encourage such actions.

Last week the R2K protested against Motsoeneng’s decision outside the SABC’s Auckland Park, Johannesburg, office. It said the broadcaster’s problems did not start, nor would they end, with his departure.

“The SABC crisis is rooted in systematic attempts by the political elite to undermine and control key public institutions.” – News 24

Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/r2k-welcomes-acting-sabc-ceos-resignation-20160627

Forum of Journalists for Transformation statement on Jimi Matthews’ long overdue departure from SABC

The long overdue resignation of acting Group CEO Jimi Matthews at the SABC this morning June 27, 2016 represents the lowest levels of questionable editorial decision-making that he (Matthews) is as much culpable for allowing himself to have been part of in the first place, at the behest of current COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng and the Board that has allowed the situation to fester to the morass that the public broadcaster is mired in.

Former acting SABC CEO Jimi Matthews. Pic: Twitter @eNCA
Jimi Matthews. Pic: Twitter @eNCA

In the circumstances, to portray a hero on the strength of his resignation tells half the story for which he alone may not be to blame. Matthews has previously been complicit in conveying Motsoeneng’s arbitrary and illogical editorial instructions on staff and consequent victimisation of those that disagreed with him that included SABC assignments editors Crosby Amos and Faith Daniels.

Suspended economics editor Thandeka Gqubule, executive producer Foeta Krige and journalist Suna Venter are just the latest examples in the ending list of victimisation. The FJT calls for their immediate reinstatement.

When questions were raised as early as the inception of Motsoeneng’s 70/30 sunshine journalism rule, it was Matthews who told protesting journalists that those uncomfortable with the rule were free to resign. It would sound unsympathetic to hold that the chicken have come home to roost albeit the reasons for which Matthews is resigning now were the very same he had initially stood against.

Although not admitting to having being part of the problem to the excesses running amok at the SABC Matthews has pointed out having been part of the betrayal of values most dear to him: “For many months I have compromised the values that I hold dear under the mistaken belief that I could more effective inside the SABC than outside, passing comment from the side-lines.’’

Read also: Solidarity: SABC censorship blatant violation of human rights

Matthews has watched and participated in the side-lining of many for the duration of his silence. Indeed, many people felt let down for remaining silent when his voice was most needed to be heard.

He was happy to keep his cushy job and lucrative salary for years in exchange for his silence. How convenient that he now wants to be viewed as a hero? Matthews said and did nothing when Motsoeneng ran amok for years, destroying many careers, undermining journalistic integrity and imposing censorship. He will go down in history as a very weak CEO who took orders from a subordinate – the COO.

Mathews has been the head of news at the SABC throughout the tenures of various CEOs. Of the many sins he may have committed – censorship appears to be one sin he seemingly was no longer able to continue with. However, it is interesting to note that in what may have been power induced rage – Matthews was accused of assaulting a female staff member outside Parliament during the State of the Nation Address last year. It is still unclear as to what steps or sanctions were taken against him.

Read also: Pressly: State broadcaster goes pre-94 – Dumbing-down SABC style

Contrary to attempts to portray himself as a hero for doing what he ought to have done many years ago, the FJT believes Matthews abandoned the ship to save his own skin and present himself as a principled person. By all accounts, he has been Motsoeneng’s lap dog since the young dictator usurped power, allowing himself to be used as the SABC COO’s willing enforcer in chief.

The SABC board under Professor Maguvhe is similarly to blame for corporate governance failure as well as inability to exercise oversight role that has seen the SABC miscarry into quicksand of role confusion that has seen Motsoeneng become a general dealer mastering everything, leaving the rest of people at the SABC pathetic persona non grata without a clue for reason of their employ.

The same can be extended to the ANC, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi and Parliament Portfolio on Communication for their inability to show spine to take a stand on behalf of the tax payers to the sorry state of affairs wreaking havoc at the public broadcaster.

If the country does not act now it will be too late to do so later.

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