The ministry of communications is confident the board of directors it has selected to manage Sentech will turn around the state-owned business and it will not interfere in the running of the company.
This is despite a newspaper report at the weekend that acting CEO Beverly Ngwenya and chief financial officer Mohammed Cassim had resigned and were being charged for “gross negligence” as a result of alleged reckless spending.
Uncertainty has surrounded Sentech since communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda reported on the highlights of a 93-page independent report detailing the problems at the business.
Among other things, the report recommended the executive team be sacked and funding for the signal distributor be clarified.
As a result, Nyanda appointed a new Sentech board in April, including a new chairman in Quraysh Patel, who replaced Colin Hickling.
At the same time, Ngwenya was installed as acting CEO, replacing Sebiletso Mokone-Matabane.
Ngwenya and Cassim are expected to face disciplinary charges of negligence and reckless spending.
Sentech’s executives were locked in a board meeting on Monday — probably determining how to manage the situation. Company spokesman Polly Modiko won’t comment, saying she is compiling a report for the minister.
The department says it will not step in to resolve the troubles at Sentech. Rather it will let its board deal with the problems, saying only that it has every faith in the panel it has selected will do its job.
“We believe the board is capable and will ensure that Sentech meets all its objectives,” says department spokesman Tiyani Rikhotso.
He says the department has appointed the right people to stabilise Sentech. — Candice Jones, TechCentral
- Image credit: Rebamax
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