SABC Group CEO resigns

Jimi Matthews, acting SABC Group CEO, has just resigned.

This according to a photo of his resignation letter Matthews posted on Twitter at around 9.40am this morning. The tweet simply read “I have quit the SABC” atop the attached photo.

I have quit the SABC. pic.twitter.com/ZIwa7K5z9c

— jimi matthews (@jimimatthews) June 27, 2016

He said in the letter that what is happening at the SABC is wrong and he could no longer be a part of it. The letter further reads of how Matthews had to compromise the values he holds dear ‘under the mistaken belief that I could be more valuable inside the SABC than outside’.

His announcement on Twitter was met with overwhelming support. Ferial Haffajee, the editor of City Press, said she hopes it would ‘turn things to right’.

that must have been hard to write. Perhaps it will turn things to right.

— Ferial Haffajee (@ferialhaffajee) June 27, 2016

The SABC’s spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, could not yet be reached to confirm Matthews’ resignation.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the SABC’s COO, recently made headlines after deciding that the public broadcaster will no longer show footage of people destroying public property. This was met with disapproval by numerous journalists and the Media Monitoring Africa organisation.

Jimi Matthews' resignation from the SABC must be commended.
How much longer can others sit by silently while Hlaudi behaves so unethically

— Katy Katopodis (@KatyKatopodis) June 27, 2016

Jimi Matthews steps down from SABC. On Friday I tweeted that he was one of best managers I'd ever had&it was sad to see him grovel to Hlaudi

— Redi Tlhabi (@RediTlhabi) June 27, 2016