SABC’s Masinga suspended
AUCKLAND PARK – Broadcasting disruptions may have caused the suspension of SABC group head of technology Sipho Masinga.
SABC group head of technology Sipho Masinga has been suspended.
The SABC on 23 November confirmed media reports but declined to detail the reasons behind this.
The City Press quoted SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago as saying “The media will not be used as a way of doing a disciplinary process”. He added that Masinga was suspended over a month ago.
According to various media reports, however, Masinga was allegedly suspended subsequent to a report he wrote blaming outdated and broken infrastructure for interruptions to the service delivered by the broadcaster.
SABC radio stations and TV channels reportedly went off air for about an hour last month due to alleged technical problems.
Kganyago said that the report was an “internal document” that would not be made public as the context was not understood.
“We don’t write reports because we just feel like it. We write if there is a problem to find a solution.”
The City Press reported that Masinga warned of further blackouts on air and claims SABC buildings in all nine provinces are in a dire state and need maintenance and investments on new technology.
Masinga’s suspension comes after the suspension of SABC Ellen Tshabalala who is said to have lied to the broadcaster about her qualifications.
In the curriculum vitae submitted to Parliament, Tshabalala claimed to have a BCom and Diploma in Labour Relations from Unisa, and a letter from Unisa’s legal department, in the DA’s possession, indicates that Tshabalala has neither a degree nor diploma from Unisa, according to DA’s Gavin Davis.
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s report on the SABC in February also found that its chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, lied about having a matric qualification.
