SABC group CEO Madoda Mxakwe has lashed out at axed group executive of news and current affairs Phathiswa Magopeni, saying she abused her position, distorted facts and refused to accept responsibility for her actions.
In a strongly worded, 32-page response to Magopeni’s grievance on Wednesday, which was leaked to Business Day, Mxakwe stated that her grievance was riddled with “factual inaccuracies, deliberate distortions of known facts” and was made in bad faith to tarnish his reputation.
Mxakwe noted that “this erratic and immature behaviour is not becoming of an executive in her position”.
In her grievance to the board, dated November 29, Magopeni stated how Mxakwe and board chair Bongumusa Makhathini allegedly used their influential positions to try to force her to approve an unscheduled interview with ANC leader Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of the municipal elections on November 1.
The SABC board has said it had established a special committee to probe whether the board chair had a case of misconduct to answer for and to determine if steps needed to be taken.
Mxakwe and Makhathini have been at the forefront of efforts to turn around the SABC, which was among state-owned enterprises that were captured by the Guptas, leaving it cash-strapped and dependent on government bailouts to continue operating.
Magopeni was finally fired by the SABC on Friday after a disciplinary hearing that in January found her guilty of misconduct for failing to prevent the broadcast, airing and publication of an interdicted episode of Special Assignment, an investigative news programme.
The axe fell on Magopeni despite disciplinary hearing chair Nazeer Cassim having recommended that she be given a warning.
In his response, Mxakwe stated: “I need to voice my strong concern that the complainant is abusing a legitimate grievance process to avoid being held accountable for her actions. I find this to be just as concerning as the allegations themselves, as the complainant is in effect taking her own wrongdoing and attempting to flip it into an attack on my character and my reputation — and in so doing undermines the actions I have undertaken to promote and protect the SABC.
“This is an abuse of her position, an abuse of privilege, and speaks volumes about her true interests and her professed commitment to the sanctity of the SABC’s news processes.”
Mxakwe said he initiated a formal disciplinary process against Magopeni on November 25, “to hold her accountable for her role in the SABC breaching a court order of September 14 2021, after the broadcast of an interdicted Special Assignment report on October 26 2021”.
“In addition, the complainant is being disingenuous in her attack, and is using the incidents referred to in her complaint to assassinate my good character and reputation, built over many years of consistent hard work and ethical leadership, both locally and internationally,” he said.
“At the heart of many of the complainant’s allegations is a complete lack of understanding of the meaning of accountability. I find this extremely disappointing, particularly given her seniority in the organisation. This has been compounded by her conduct during the issues and events in question, and her enthusiasm for taking this issue into the public domain — regardless of the damage this may cause to the SABC.”
Mxakwe stated that throughout their tenure at the SABC, Magopeni had consistently expressed her appreciation of his support and leadership. This, he said, was confirmed by a message recently sent by Magopeni on WhatsApp, reading: “Without your regenerative leadership, I wouldn’t be able to make the decisions I am able to make.”
The group CEO said during his tenure at the public broadcaster he had always acted in the best interest of the corporation. “I have never interfered in the editorial decisions of the newsroom nor taken instructions from any external third parties,” he said.
“What we have to confront is the fact that a very senior executive, our (now former) head of news, does not want to be held accountable and will go to great lengths to destroy people’s reputations to achieve her agenda — even if it destroys the credibility and stability of the very organisation we all work hard to restore.
“I find it deeply disturbing that the SABC’s attempts to hold Ms Magopeni accountable for her actions have prompted her to embark on a path of organisational destruction, rather than acknowledging obvious errors and accepting responsibility.”
When contacted for comment by Business Day, Magopeni said: “I’m not going to go into detail. I would wish that there be a formal inquiry into the matter, so that I can put my facts across in a public platform with concrete evidence.”
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