Hlaudi must follow Matthews: Right2Know

Amid news that the chairpman of the SABC board has called an urgent staff meeting as staff threaten a news blackout‚ the Right2Know Campaign is demanding that the broadcaster’s COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng resign.

The organisation said it welcomed the decision by the public broadcaster’s acting CEO‚ Jimi Matthews‚ to quit his job and urged Motsoeneng to follow suit.

“The stormy departure of someone as senior as the CEO is telling of just how bad things have become at the broadcaster‚ and it shows that public opposition to COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng is gaining momentum. In the past week we have held five pickets against the SABC management nationally and we will continue to mobilise and work with other civil society‚ media and worker organisations to put pressure on the SABC until Hlaudi follows Matthews out the door‚” Right2Know said.

Matthews resigned this week further fuelling rumours of serious problems within the broadcaster. A series of marches have been taking place after SABC decided not to show any damage of property during violent protests in the country.

TMG Digital reported on Tuesday that staff at the SABC had threatened a news blackout.

Senior managers‚ including journalists‚ were seeking an urgent meeting with the SABC board to discuss editorial decisions made by Motsoeneng.

TMG Digital learned that the chairperson of the board Mbulaheni Maguvhe had invited staff to an “urgent rediffusion” session at 12 today.

Maguvhe is also expected to address the media later on Tuesday afternoon.