THE broadcast-related blunders involving major political events seem to have once again revisited the SABC.

About two weeks ago, guests due to appear on SABC1's current affairs show Sunday Live were understood to have been abruptly informed that their participation would no longer be needed.

It is understood that a possible mix-up with scheduling may have led to the embarrassing situation.

Sowetan was informed that the show's host, Vuyo Mvoko, was preparing to host a panel discussion on gangsterism in Western Cape when his programme had to make way for a live broadcast of the annual Nelson Mandela lecture being held in Cape Town.

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago yesterday dismissed any suggestion that the mix-up had been the result of poor management .

"There was nothing sinister," Kganyago said.

"The news department asked for space to broadcast the lecture. "

However, Sowetan has it on good authority that the lecture, delivered by former Ireland president Mary Robinson and attended by dignitaries that included Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and former president Nelson Mandela's wife Grace Machel, was meant to have been transmitted live on SABC2, but the channel is said to have been unprepared for it.

Meanwhile, the SABC board has passed a vote of no-confidence on advocate Cawe Mahlati, who was appointed to the board in June last year as an additional member. - molatlhwao@sowetan.co.za