Judge pleads for SABC mediation

Johannesburg High Court Judge Mohamed Jabjhay said he spoke for all
South Africans yesterday as he pleaded with the SABC board and the
broadcaster’s suspended group CEO, Dali Mpofu, to seek mediation, writes Jocelyn Newmarch in Business Day.

“Please, I speak the voice of the nation, the judiciary speaks the voice of the nation, forget your personal differences. Please try to resolve this matter,” the judge begged Mpofu and the SABC board.

He was willing to offer his mediation services outside his judicial role, but also recommended empowerment firm Peotona co-founder Thandi Orleyn, a former Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration director.

“I have made my sentiments known. Advocate Mpofu is also an expert in alternative dispute resolutions. Perhaps this is a matter that should be channelled in those directions,” said the judge.

Mpofu’s plea for the lifting of his third suspension will be decided next week as the SABC board failed to file answering papers yesterday. He welcomed the judge’s mediation suggestion, saying he had also proposed this.

“They have impaired my dignity. I’m standing here suffering, the organisation is suffering,” Mpofu said. “Once that is sorted out we can resolve other outstanding issues.” Mpofu’s lawyers indicated that his suspension had to be lifted first.

The SABC board welcomed the postponement, and said it too had proposed mediation.

“An agreement could not be reached on a mediation process because the GCEO (Mpofu) insisted on preconditions,” the board said in a statement.

The board said it would not deal with the matter in the media, as this was not in the interests of the corporation or stakeholders. Board chair- woman Khanyi Mkonza said: “We have to reiterate that we consider the charges of misconduct against the GCEO to be very serious … it is important that we follow due process in dealing with them.”

Click here to read the full story, posted on Business day's website.