Reports that Sipho Sithole has been employed as new SABC head of strategy, SABC online revamp etc.
Kate Skinner
Mail&Guardian
‘No conflict,’ strategy boss insists
LLOYD GEDYE - Jul 18 2009 06:00
The
SABC's head of strategy, Sipho Sithole, faces allegations that his private
interests in the music and film industries conflict with his role at the public
broadcaster.
This follows the memorandum by "organised labour" addressed
to acting SABC chief executive Gab Mampone that queried an alleged R42,6-million
paid by the broadcaster to Sithole and an entity called Gemini Consulting.
The unions also allege that the SABC paid Sithole's R18 000 cellphone bill,
alleging he uses the phone for "personal business".
Sithole, a former
deputy chief executive of Gallo Records, left to form Native Rhythms Records in
2005. He signed up award-winning artists, such as Siphokazi and Zuluboy, as well
as focusing on films, documentaries, events and music publishing. When he became
head of strategy and risk management at the SABC at the behest of then-chief
executive Dali Mpofu, Sithole announced that Native Rhythms would be
restructured to ensure that he gave up his shareholding and operational
role.
But he is still listed as an active director of Native Rhythms,
alongside his wife, Gabisile Sithole, the only other director. Both are
shareholders.
In her representations to Parliament this month former SABC
chairperson Khanyi Mkonza complained that members of the SABC executive had been
blatant about using the corporation for their "own private benefit".
She
referred to "a senior manager, who has business interests in the music industry
and his influence on the music policy of the SABC and his role in the various
music awards organised by the SABC -- in particular the Metro
Awards".
She said that "the pressure for board members to resign now
could be linked to people inside and outside the SABC not wanting the board to
deal with these acts of possible corruption".
As a senior manager at the
SABC, Sithole was active in calling for the board to step down and for Mpofu's
reinstatement. In June last year he read a statement to the media endorsing a
memorandum signed by senior executives that called on the board to step down
immediately, because it had lost its "moral authority and integrity to lead the
SABC".
Approached this week, Sithole said there was no conflict of
interest between his shareholding in Native Rhythms and his SABC position. He
had declared it and said the broadcaster had not asked him to resign or sell his
shares.
"If the SABC said I must leave, then I would leave," he
said.
He was no longer operationally involved at Native Rhythms, he said,
but failed to explain why he was still listed as a director.
Sithole said he
had no influence over the SABC's music policy. But in September last year he
introduced the SABC's new music policy to a packed auditorium at the Moshito
Music Conference.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago confirmed that
Sithole was responsible for all SABC strategy policies, including music policy,
but argued that there was no conflict of interest because Sithole did not deal
with music policy implementation.
Queries have been raised over Sithole's
influence at the Metro Awards. City Press has reported that many at the
2007 Metro FM Awards had wondered if the "big platform" given to Native Rhythms
artist Camagwini to perform was linked to Sithole's SABC position. "She is
completely unknown and her performance did not dazzle," the paper
said.
Kganyago said Sithole had nothing to do with the Metro FM
Awards.
Sithole has referred the queries of "organised labour" to the
SABC.
Kganyago said that the SABC and Sithole are awaiting the results of
the forensic investigation into the unions' allegations.
Source:
Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address:
http://mg.co.za/article/2009-07-18-no-conflict-strategy-boss-insists
________________________________
SA reporters lack understanding and experience
SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT
28 October 2011
Many Journalists in South Africa, particularly those from the white owned and controlled media, lack vital skills, when reporting about political happenings and labour related issues.
Like the ANC, SACP, COSATU and ANCYL the largest Local Government Union SAMWU has encountered numerous problems with reporters. Especially reporters that misquote, misrepresent and do not understand the history and background of labour related issues, International labour standards, the history of the country and the role Trade Unions and Alliance structures played and continue to play, utilising mass democratic action to liberate the toiling masses.
We fully concur with the ANCYL President comrade Julius Malema, when he lashed out at certain media organisations in the country today. Municipal Workers understand the Youth Leagues frustration with certain media organisations. These media houses are not training and educating their reporters.
Many reporters have learned their trade on the job, there are hardly any formal courses, offered by reputable institutions that offer skills training for reporters who want to specialise in reporting on labour related matters and or political issues.
The sector training authority, which supports and facilitates education and training in the media, must ensure that adequate training is developed and offered to those commercial media houses that are in desperate need of it.
A good few years ago, there used to be labour reporters and political reporters but today in newsrooms across the country – apart from two newspapers – there are no specialist reporters, especially in radio stations. We demand that media houses train their reporters in the fields they are covering and create specialist reporters who would report truthfully, within the proper context and accurately.
A rapidly changing socio-political environment meant that many journalists had been under pressure to understand and report on complex issues quickly and accurately. Which they have failed to do so – most reporters found in newsrooms today are young and inexperienced, yet they are required to report on rapidly changing socio-political environments, complex issues quickly and even issues they themselves do not understand.
With political and labour related developments likely to escalate rapidly next year, it is vital we start from now to better equip the mostly young and inexperienced reporters with the knowledge and tools they require.
Issued by;
Tahir Sema.
South African Municipal Workers' Union of COSATU
National
Media and Publicity Officer
tahir...@samwu.org.za
Office: 011-331 0333.
Fax:
0866186479.
Cell:
0829403403.