Board member to provide expanded oversight over sales and marketing activities
Johannesburg, 05 March 2010 - As part of the programme of turning around and stabilising the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), the corporation's Board yesterday (4 March 2010) asked one of its members, Ms Clare O'Neil, to provide expanded oversight of the SABC's sales and marketing activities.
The Board made the request at the recommendation of the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Solly Mokoetle and because of Ms. O'Neil's specialised knowledge and experience in the field of advertising and related activities. Ms O'Neil will contribute to strategic and operational planning on SABC revenues and exercise oversight over implementation of the turnaround programme. The Board expects this arrangement to last for several months. She will remain a member of the Board and will not serve directly in the SABC structures. The Board thanks Ms O'Neil for accepting this increased involvement. In the light of various inaccurate claims and comments made before the Board addressed the matter, the Board notes that the request to Ms O'Neil and the nature of her increased oversight is in line with the requirements with the SABC's enabling legislation, the Broadcasting Act; with the Public Finance Management Act; and with various other regulatory and statutory imperatives. The Board believes it would be useful in future if commentators and analysts did not base their assessments on inaccurate rumours, but on facts. It also notes that the inaccurate reports and comments appear to have originated on a materially inaccurate claim by an official of the Bemawu trade union. It suggests analysts and commentators treat future claims from this source with caution. Media Release by: Group Communications on Behalf of the Chairperson of the Board. Media Enquiries: Kaizer Kganyago. Cell: 082 306 8888.
