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The SABC building in Auckland Park in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- SABC’s board dismissed a report Sunday alleging it plans to impeach its news boss.
- The SABC board has called the report “false and misleading” and is demanding a retraction.
- This occurs when public broadcaster workers face layoffs.
The board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has dismissed a report on Sunday about the public broadcaster’s news chief as “false and misleading.”
“The article contains false, misleading and completely fictitious information about [the] alleged decision of the SABC Board on the group executive: News and current affairs, Ms Phathiswa Magopeni. The SABC board would like to make it emphatically clear that it has never had discussions or made any decision to ‘impeach’ Ms. Magopeni, “the board said in a statement Monday.
This comes after the Sunday World reported that the board, led by President Bongumusa Makhathini, had allegedly decided to indict Magopeni for defying the broadcaster’s resolution to implement cuts.
The report alleges this came after Magopeni told news staff that he was abandoning the downsizing just days after 50 staff members received notices.
“We regard these allegations as completely malicious and false and record that no such discussion took place. Aside from the fact that the SABC Board cannot get involved in operational or editorial matters, the Board is deeply concerned that the Sunday World, Based on information allegedly from ‘some members of the Board’, he has completely fabricated a Board discussion, including the alleged charges brought against Ms Magopeni, “the statement read.
SEE | Explainer: a closer look at what is happening at the SABC
According to the publication, the board would presumably launch the process to accuse Magopeni once “the confrontation between the unions and the public broadcaster had been resolved.”
“The Board strongly rejects the Sunday World claim that the Board has ‘initiated’ disciplinary proceedings against Ms. Magopeni. Again, no such discussion took place.
“It should be noted that Ms Magopeni does not report directly to the SABC Board and therefore Sunday World’s claims are unfounded and without foundation,” the board added.
As a result, the SABC Board is demanding a retraction from the Sunday World for the article it has called “false and misleading.”
READ | Suspension of the SABC staff reduction process extended until the end of December
The public broadcaster has extended the suspension of the reduction process until the end of December, Fin24 reported.
The Labor Court also recently rejected an offer from a union, the Broadcasting, Electronics, Media and Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) to halt the downsizing process, Fin24 reported.
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