mce_keep=”true”Mpofu announced the decision to suspend Snuki Zikalala, group executive of news and current affairs, on Tuesday (6 May).
The Weekender previously reported Zikalala was “being touted as possible replacement for (Mpofu), who is about to face disciplinary action”.
According to an SABC statement on the suspension, Zikalala has been suspended “with immediate effect pending an investigation into allegations of serious misconduct”.
“The outcome of the investigation is likely to result in a formal disciplinary enquiry.”
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago confirmed the suspension was linked to the alleged leaking of “sensitive information”. He, however, denied any relation to the href=”/themedia/view/themedia/en/page2176?oid=7636&sn=Detail” target=_blank mce_href=”/themedia/view/themedia/en/page2176?oid=7636&sn=Detail”recent leaking of a board memorandum to the media, which led to speculation that the board was planning to axe Mpofu for dereliction of duty.
The SABC earlier this year fired a senior employee – allegedly over the leaking of a report to the media on an investigation into the SABC’s former chief legal officer Mafika Sihlali. Kganyago would not comment on the circumstances of the senior employee’s departure from the corporation.
Asked why the SABC acted differently in Zikalala’s case than in the case of Sihlali, Kganyago said the cases were “not the same”.
Sihlali was suspended in August last year – after a report on an investigation into alleged fraud of approximately R1.8-million had been leaked to the media.
According to the report, Mpofu had been advised to suspend Sihlali months before, but failed to do so at the time.
Sihlali was eventually suspended after “a comprehensive investigation” had been completed – pending a disciplinary enquiry. Zikalala, on the other hand, was not suspended following an investigation, but pending it.
Kganyago could not say who would be acting in Zikalala’s position. He said this would be determined “later tonight (Tuesday) or tomorrow morning (Wednesday)”.
Zikalala could not be reached for comment as his cellphone was diverted to his office, where there was no answer. SABCnews.com reported he said he would not comment owing to an agreement with Mpofu.
■This is an update of the story first published on TheMediaOnline.
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