http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=70991,1,22
SANDRA LIEBERUM
JOHANNESBURG - Were it not for the political implications, the ongoing Dali Mpofu versus the SABC board Johannesburg High Court applications would be like an Auckland Park soap opera.
Advocate Mpofu was at court yesterday to challenge his third suspension in two months by the SABC board. The first suspension was hours after Mpofu had suspended Dr Snuki Zikalala for allegedly “leaking confidential information”.
Zikalala has been reinstated by the board and is on two weeks leave pending the outcome of a CCMA complaint.
Mpofu has been suspended for the third time in conjunction with a pending disciplinary enquiry where one of the allegations on the five-page “charge sheet” is “incompatibility with the board”.
In papers filed for his successful application for court intervention after his first suspension in May, Mpofu expressed the opinion that outside influences had precipated his fall from grace.
Lead Counsel for Mpofu, Advocate Micheal Kuper SC submitted to the court yesterday that Mpofu had been entitled to participate in the June 11 meeting where his suspension was decided.
Mpofu however was not entitled to vote.
The crux of the matter, which Judge Antonie Gildenhuys, presiding, has to decide is whether Mpofu acquiesced to leaving the June 11 meeting after the executive directors were requested to recuse themselves by the chairman.
“Why did he not immediately object,” asked the judge.
Advocate Kuper pointed out that Mpofu was informed he would be afforded an opportunity later in the meeting to present reasons why he should not be suspended and went to his office to make notes.
But when he was recalled this did not happen.
