SABC news boss Snuki Zikalala has got his job back, but the man who
axed him is still battling to get his own suspension lifted, writes Thabo Mkhize in The Times.
Dali Mpofu, the suspended SABC chief executive who kicked
Zikalala out of his head-of-news position two months ago and accused
him of leaking the broadcaster’s confidential documents, will today
appear in the Johannesburg High Court to fight the SABC board, which
suspended him.
Mpofu and the board failed to settle their differences
out of court and yesterday Mpofu said he was not sure whether he would
regain his position .
“I don’t know what will happen … we will see in court.â€ÂÂ
As Mpofu embarks on another legal battle to reverse his
third suspension by the board  which first removed him only hours
after he suspended Zikalala  the controversial news boss will be on
“special leave†following his triumph at a hearing of the Commission
for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration yesterday.
Kaizer Kganyago, a spokesman for the SABC, yesterday confirmed Zikalala’s return to the SABC.
“The SABC has lifted the suspension with immediate
effect but he [Zikalala] is not coming back now, he has been given
special leave for two weeks.
“Both parties agreed that the conciliation process will continue for two weeks and [will] meet again on July 21.â€ÂÂ
Sources said the decision to reinstate Zikalala was taken
at an SABC board meeting on Friday and yesterday’s hearing was viewed
as merely a formality.
His return was rubber-stamped by the Kanyisiwe Mkonza-led board, which had opposed his suspension from the beginning.
Mkonza, who has had running public spats with Mpofu, described Zikalala’s suspension as “invalid and unlawfulâ€ÂÂ.
Click here to read the full report, posted on thetimes.co.za.
