SABC CEO Solly Mokoetle has been suspended by the public broadcaster’s board pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing, SABC radio news reported on Friday.

The board said the decision was made following a meeting with Mokoetle on Thursday. Formal charges were still being prepared and would be given to Mokoetle.

The public broadcaster’s chief financial officer has meanwhile been appointed acting group CEO.

Mokoetle’s sacking follows Tuesday’s meeting between parliament’s portfolio committee on communications and the board, where the SABC board was called to brief the committee on its “functionality”. The board was also called in to update MPs on its turnaround strategy and Mokoetle’s appointment as CEO.

The committee expected answers from chairman Ben Ngubane, whom the board accused of rubber-stamping Mokoetle’s contentious nomination of Phil Molefe as head of news at the public broadcaster.

The majority of board members had repeatedly stated in recent months that the appointment was null and void as proper processes had not been followed.

Media had also reported that the board threatened to suspend Mokoetle.

The new board was appointed in mid-January, just weeks after Mokoetle began serving his five-year contract.

A coalition group calling itself Save Our SABC (SOS), comprising the Cosatu, the Freedom of Expression Institute and the Media Institute of Southern Africa also added its voice in support of the board.

In a letter to the committee, the SOS said Mokoetle had ignored and overturned board decisions and had been supported by Ngubane.

“SOS’s understanding is that at the heart of the SABC’s ongoing troubles is the persistent undermining of the governance role of the board,” a statement from the coalition read.

It claimed that board meetings were cancelled since May this year, and for this called for action to be taken against Ngubane.

“Further, no real oversight has been taken over key governance and financial issues for a number of months.”

SOS had noted “a very active and transparent” public nomination process for the new board, which provided competent board members.

However, it said in recent months, effective oversight and leadership of the SABC had suffered deeply due to a stand-off between Ngubane, Mokoetle and board members.

It said the prospect of the resignation of numerous members of the board, would be devastating for the future of the public broadcaster. — Sapa