The SABC has allegedly charged its new chief operating
officer Chris Maroleng and acting group executive for sports Marcia Mahlalela
for their role in the appointment of Robert Marawa.
Sunday World understands that the two SABC executives were
allegedly informed about the decision on Thursday, two weeks after the
completion of an investigation instituted by former acting CEO Nomsa Philiso
into Marawa's appointment.
Philiso instituted the investigations after receiving
complaints from internal staff who alleged that the appointment did not follow
the correct procedures, including that it was imposed by the said executives.
Three high-ranking SABC officials have revealed that upon
receipt of the charges, Mahlalela tendered her resignation from the public
broadcaster with immediate effect.
Charges she was allegedly facing include an allegation that
she demoted her junior for refusing to draft a memorandum motivating for
Marawa's appointment.
She was also to answer charges on the signing of the
contract with Marawa without involving sports finance to check if there was a
budget to fund the contract.
Another charge, according to a senior executive, related to
Mahlalela's neglect of her fiduciary duties allegedly for agreeing to an
exorbitant fee of R7000 per show for Marawa, which will cost the SABC
R5.5-million over three years.
According to Marawa's contract, which is set to run from
June 1 2018 to May 31 2021, the sports presenter is set to earn R154000 per
month, which is R1.8-million per year, and R5.5-million by the end of his term.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago confirmed officials who are
implicated in the forensic report for wrongdoing have been charged. "The
SABC can confirm that the investigation into the process of appointment of Mr
Robert Marawa has been finalised.
"The implicated officials will be afforded an
opportunity to give their side of the story.
"The SABC is therefore not in a position to comment
further as this is an internal matter."
Although a source said the report found that Marawa's
appointment should be revoked, Kganyago did not confirm this finding.
Sunday World can reveal that Mahlalela led the process for
Marawa's appointment and sealed the deal with her signature.
However, not everyone was pleased with the appointment,
especially Orapeleng Lebethe, who is a known enemy of Marawa.
Lebethe was removed as acting general manager for sports,
allegedly because he refused to motivate for Marawa's appointment.
Maroleng, according to officials close to the
investigation, is set to face charges of interfering with the appointment and
allegations that he failed to declare his friendship with Marawa.
These allegations were allegedly dismissed by Mahlalela
when she was interviewed by investigators, and she exonerated Maroleng of any
wrong doing.
But an official close to Maroleng confirmed that he was the
one who kick-started the negotiations with Marawa, and that the two met two
months ago at Montecasino in Fourways.
"He later handed over the discussions to Mahlalela to
finalise the process," said the official.
However, an official close to Mahlalela said the sports
executive had long wanted to leave as she had secured another job .
"She wanted to resign, unfortunately before she could
do that, she was served with the charges. She decided to leave to avoid
subjecting herself to unnecessary stress."
When contacted for comment this week, Mahlalela said she
was not obliged to speak on the matter with the media.
She later claimed to be in a meeting.
Maroleng also declined to comment on the matter and
referred all inquiries to Kganyago. Sowetan
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