South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Head of News Phatiswa Magopeni has accused the public broadcaster of using the disciplinary hearing to conduct an investigation of the wrong episode that was aired at Special Assignment on SABC 3.
The SABC’s Editor in Chief has been giving evidence at an internal disciplinary hearing that was instituted against her by the public broadcaster last month.
Magopeni is facing charges of negligence and bringing the company into disrepute. These relate to a Special Assignment episode that was aired despite a court interdict.
Magopeni has been cross-examined on Tuesday afternoon over her involvement in the airing of the programme. During her evidence, Magopeni explained that no internal investigation was conducted by the SABC ahead of her being charged.
“I’m sitting here hearing things for the first time during these last three days. We’re conducting an investigation through a disciplinary hearing. I was charged before an investigation.”
The process began last Friday with advocate Nazeer Cassim chairing proceedings.
She has been charged with misconduct, negligence and bringing the public broadcaster into disrepute.
Magopeni explains: “Disciplinary action will be conducted when all legal processes have been followed and then it stipulates the disciplinary code … conditions of employment and other things. So you have two documents within the SABC, the delegation of authority framework and this disciplinary code that talk to the processes that need to be followed during the DC.
“If that was the case, I would have been invited to participate in the investigation. I would have been questioned and asked to provide evidence. My team would have been asked to be part of the same process and everyone else who would have been part of the incident including video entertainment because this is a story that cuts across two divisions.”
Disciplinary Hearing of SABC News Head Phathiswa Magopeni:
