The dismissal of its head of news comes amid counterclaims of political interference
The SABC, one of the few public entities on a strong recovery path after years of decline, has been thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons after the dismissal of its head of news, Phathiswa Magopeni, amid allegations of political and editorial interference.
Could the Magopeni saga, which the board has been somewhat unfairly dragged into, be the first real blemish on a rather decent record? The popular narrative, however, is that Magopeni was fired for standing firm against the ANC’s demands for favourable coverage after the governing party blamed the public broadcaster for its poor showing in last year’s local government elections.
“Whether that should have resulted in her being fired hinges on the process outlined in the disciplinary findings and letter, and that is likely to be a central issue of a challenge by Magopeni.”The disciplinary hearing recommended a warning to the board. However, the SABC took the drastic step of firing her, citing “a breakdown in the trust relationship between employer and employee”.
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