Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri expressed "great concern" on Wednesday about the suspension of South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) CEO Dali Mpofu and head of news Snuki Zikalala. <\/p>\n
"All will be done on [the minister's] part to ensure the ability of the SABC to carry out its mandate," she said.<\/p>\n
Mpofu was suspended on Wednesday for apparently failing to implement decisions of the board.<\/p>\n
His suspension came a day after Mpofu suspended Zikalala, the group executive of news and current affairs.<\/p>\n
The minister said she would ensure the SABC would deliver on its 2010 responsibility, perform its role in digital migration and ensure its image did "not suffer further damage".<\/p>\n
"We call on all its journalists to remain true to fair reporting and journalistic integrity and impartiality."<\/p>\n
SABC staff were asked to carry out their responsibilities to ensure the "stability" of the institution.<\/p>\n
The Democratic Alliance (DA), meanwhile, said the atmosphere was "thick with conspiracy and political purges" at the SABC.<\/p>\n
DA communications spokesperson Dene Smuts said it was "impossible" to know the merits of the suspensions and inquiries into Zikalala and Mpofu.<\/p>\n
"All that can be usefully said is that allegations should be properly founded, and enquiries fairly handled."<\/p>\n
The South African Communist Party (SACP) said the suspension of Zikalala was "long overdue". <\/p>\n
"His return to the SABC from the government was indeed a farce," it said.<\/p>\n
The party said Zikalala had become a huge liability who severely compromised the impartiality and objectivity of SABC news.<\/p>\n
However, the party said the way the SABC board retaliated against Mpofu for his "correct action" confirmed that the board was "in cahoots with some of the elements hell-bent on leading the SABC down the drain".<\/p>\n
The SACP said the board must resign.<\/p>\n
African Christian Democratic Party MP Steve Swart said an independent inquiry headed by a judge should investigate the management crisis at the SABC.<\/p>\n
"It is not enough that Mpofu and Zikakala are the only ones being investigated," said Swart. "The actions surrounding the whole board and management need to be investigated."<\/p>\n
The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) said the suspension of Zikalala and Mpofu was long overdue after they brought the corporation into disrepute.<\/p>\n
"[Zikalala and Mpofu] ran down the SABC like a spaza shop and brought its credibility, image and reputation into disrepute," said ANCYL.<\/p>\n
The ANCYL said it would also wanted the current SABC board disbanded and an interim structure put in place.<\/p>\n
United Democratic Movement president Bantu Holomisa said the SABC "fracas" illustrated that as long as board members and senior staff were selected for their connections to the ruling party, questions of bias and infighting would always arise.<\/p>\n
Holomisa said the infighting at the SABC appeared to be about replacing people perceived by one faction as being loyal to another faction in the ANC.<\/p>\n
Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder said the suspension of Zikalala and Mpofu seriously affected the credibility of the corporation.<\/p>\n
He said the political change in the ANC of Mbeki to Zuma had rippled to the SABC board and its senior management.<\/p>\n
"Everybody is repositioning himself or herself at present and trying to be able to survive in the SABC during the Zuma era." <\/p>\n