Frank Maponya

Frank Maponya

SABC staff in Limpopo are getting fewer by the day after recent spates of resignations.

It is not clear what is causing the sudden exodus of newsmen and women from the public broadcaster.

But unconfirmed reports attribute the resignations to a lack of managerial skills among those in charge of the SABC in the province.

"SABC staffers in Limpopo have been frustrated for a long time," a source who wished to remain anonymous said yesterday.

"Most of them fought hard for their rights but finally had to give up. They felt the best thing to do was to quit"

Among those who left recently was TV news reporter Piet Rampedi, who joined one of the biggest Sunday newspapers as its bureau chief in Limpopo from May 1.

Rampedi's departure followed hot on the heels of Robert Ngobeni, who got an offer at the public broadcaster's headquarters in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, in March.

Another veteran reporter, Phillip van der Walt, who worked for SABC since 1980, is at present serving out his notice after getting a better offer in Mpumalanga.

The SABC Limpopo region has also lost the bulk of its producers and presenters over the past few years.

Among them were former current affairs producers Jermina Kaka and Louis Bobodi, who joined the Greater Tubatse and Makhado municipalities as spin doctor.

Josias Ncube and Isaac Ngobeni left to join newly established commercial radio station Capricorn FM.

Approached for comment yesterday SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said staffers were at liberty to take whatever offers they got elsewhere.

"The media are a competitive environment. People come and go and that is the name of the game," he said.