South Africa: Ngubane says Mokoetle had the power to sign for bonuses

SABC board chairman Ben Ngubane has defended the public broadcaster’s embattled chief executive, Solly Mokoetle, and slammed his own board members as “indisciplined” for speaking out publicly about tension within management. Ngubane was responding to reports that some board members had threatened to resign unless Mokoetle quit because of unhappiness with his leadership.

Asked about board members’ threats, Ngubane said: “If people are talking about quitting, it is wrong.”

The Sunday Independent reported that board members wanted Mokoetle out because of the debacle over the appointment of Phil Molefe as head of news.

The newspaper also said Mokoetle had approved the payment of R1 000 bonuses for SABC employees and contracted employees, despite the broadcaster’s dire financial state. Ngubane however told The Star yesterday that Mokoetle had the authority to sign off on the bonuses without board approval.

He complained about board members not raising their concerns through the board and said he would urge them to refrain from speaking to the media about SABC matters.
Ngubane said he had been told the SABC had agreed with staff that in return for the bonuses, there would be no claims for overtime during the month-long tournament.

- August 02, 2010 by MISA South Africa

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Source: www.misa.org  (received via email alert on 09.08.2010)