Pretoria - Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda on Monday met with the board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to receive a briefing on the recent developments at the SABC.
The meeting served as an opportunity for the minister to meet members of the SABC board and receive a briefing on the developments at the public broadcaster including its corporate plan, the ministry said in a statement.
"The board appraised the minister on the recent challenges facing the SABC including the broadcaster's financial affairs, the current salary negotiations with unions, reported differences between board members and the filling of key vacant positions," it said.
These included the filing of the Group Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations Officer and Group Executive for News and Current Affairs posts.
"As a shareholder we are equally not comfortable with the fact that the SABC continues to operate without key senior executives.
"We urged them to finalise as soon as possible the process of appointing a Group CEO, COO and the head the corporation's news and current affairs division," said Minister Nyanda.
The minister further raised his concerns over the negative public perception on the board and executive management's ability to give direction to the public broadcaster's operations.
He reminded the board of the mandate of the SABC to deliver quality broadcasting services to the public as stipulated in the Broadcasting Act as well as the Broadcasting Charter.
On the issue of salary negotiations between the SABC management and unions, Mr Nyanda was assured that these were continuing with the management reassuring the minister that they will work towards an amicable solution.
"It's important to note that these negotiations are taking place against the background of the current economic global meltdown," said the department.
On the issue of non-payment of independent producers, the SABC committed to meet with the producers so as to resolve issues despite the money problems facing the broadcaster.
"With regard to the SABC's corporate plan the ministry, the department and national treasury will continue engaging the SABC with a view to improve the public broadcaster's financial position including the current cash flow challenges," said the department.
The minister was satisfied that the SABC will be able to meet its commitment to FIFA with regard to the FIFA Confederations Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup.
