THE SABC should be run by someone who has either hosted, acted in, directed or produced a number of hit television and radio shows.
In other words, it must be run by someone who has had direct involvement with the actual production of some television and radio products.
It needs an honest leader who truly believes in the power of communication and is an excellent communicator.
I fail to see how anyone could run what is essentially a communications company without this belief and ability. That person's first order of business on being appointed would have to be to insist on a time period completely devoted to only talking to and listening to as many SABC employees as possible. You cannot enter a new entity with a ready-made plan that is not based on the reality on the floor, so to speak.
On the business side of things the SABC definitely needs somebody who has turned one or more badly performing business entities into profitable ones. I don't think that here the size of those businesses matters.
You can always upscale lessons learnt in smaller entities and apply them to bigger ones.
You build a tiny model, observe it in a wind tunnel, and then use the findings to build the real thing.
This new SABC group chief executive would also have to deeply understand that, currently, there is no better alternative to ANC politics for the improvement of poor people's lives in the country.
At the same time, he or she should believe completely in a high level of independence, reliable research, fairness and strong checks and balances when it comes to the production of current affairs programmes.
Most important of all, this new leader would have to believe totally in meritocracy. The SABC would have to start punishing severely those among its staff who do not perform and reward highly those who do.
From an empowerment perspective, he or she would have to believe strongly in the ability of black people, in particular, to deliver world-class products when given the chance and afforded the necessary support tools.
The SABC would have to create more and many black television production professionals as a matter of urgency.
What we are talking about here is a perfectionist with a very high level of integrity, somebody who has no tolerance level for corruption in all its guises, an independent spirit who is also a true patriot.
Guess what. I walked up to the mirror this morning, and I saw that person.
If you don't agree with this choice for SABC group chief executive, don't worry. I'm not in the running. Apparently someone else has already been appointed. I just hope that that person succeeds. The SABC and this country needs it.
- This is a column written by Eric Miyeni
The man for SABC job stared back from my mirror
THE SABC should be run by someone who has either hosted, acted in, directed or produced a number of hit television and radio shows.
In other words, it must be run by someone who has had direct involvement with the actual production of some television and radio products.
It needs an honest leader who truly believes in the power of communication and is an excellent communicator.
I fail to see how anyone could run what is essentially a communications company without this belief and ability. That person's first order of business on being appointed would have to be to insist on a time period completely devoted to only talking to and listening to as many SABC employees as possible. You cannot enter a new entity with a ready-made plan that is not based on the reality on the floor, so to speak.
On the business side of things the SABC definitely needs somebody who has turned one or more badly performing business entities into profitable ones. I don't think that here the size of those businesses matters.
You can always upscale lessons learnt in smaller entities and apply them to bigger ones.
You build a tiny model, observe it in a wind tunnel, and then use the findings to build the real thing.
This new SABC group chief executive would also have to deeply understand that, currently, there is no better alternative to ANC politics for the improvement of poor people's lives in the country.
At the same time, he or she should believe completely in a high level of independence, reliable research, fairness and strong checks and balances when it comes to the production of current affairs programmes.
Most important of all, this new leader would have to believe totally in meritocracy. The SABC would have to start punishing severely those among its staff who do not perform and reward highly those who do.
From an empowerment perspective, he or she would have to believe strongly in the ability of black people, in particular, to deliver world-class products when given the chance and afforded the necessary support tools.
The SABC would have to create more and many black television production professionals as a matter of urgency.
What we are talking about here is a perfectionist with a very high level of integrity, somebody who has no tolerance level for corruption in all its guises, an independent spirit who is also a true patriot.
Guess what. I walked up to the mirror this morning, and I saw that person.
If you don't agree with this choice for SABC group chief executive, don't worry. I'm not in the running. Apparently someone else has already been appointed. I just hope that that person succeeds. The SABC and this country needs it.
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