SABC acting COO Bessie Tugwana, the last of the two surviving executives appointed by axed COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng, allegedly tried to purge a senior staff member working in her office to make way for her "friend".
Her alleged manoeuvres have opened a can of worms including how her "friend" Marcia Mahlalela's career blossomed at the public broadcaster.
Insiders claim that Mahlalela started as a freelancer in 2014 earning R3500 per shift and was made acting general manager of operations this year.
According to Mahlalela's invoices, seen by Sunday World, she started out by assisting with creative and editorial directing for Soccer Zone, for which she was paid R3500 per shift.
The figure mushroomed to a whopping R7500 per shift a few months later as the role of specialist producer was added to her name.
SABC sources claim this was done even though the show already had three producers who were discharging the same responsibilities.
Some of the invoices were paid with only Tugwana's assistant Gugu Xaba's signature attached and were not signed by the show's executive producer and producer.
Tugwana's troubles started when she tried to extend the tenure of Mahlalela in her office by three months a month ago despite the fact that the post was not vacant and the person occupying it was back from maternity leave.
Tugwana, 62, wrote a delegation of authority letter for Mahlalela authorising her to act in her office from July 3 to October 22 while incumbent Nompumelelo Phasha was already back at work.
The e-mails indicate that Phasha challenged Tugwana's decision and filed a complaint with HR.
The decision was also challenged by suspended group executive for sports Sully Motsweni and acting group chief executive Nomsa Philiso, all citing that it will lead to irregular expenditure as the SABC would pay two people for doing the same job.
Tugwana, who was cornered to explain her decision, opted to rescind her move but also emphasised that she needed to keep Mahlalela.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago denied Mahlalela's appointments to various managerial positions were irregular and that she was friends with Tugwana.
About attempts to shaft Phasha, he said: ". a vacancy had opened at SABC Legal after one of the senior lawyers resigned. A request was circulated to the interim board to request Nompumelelo Phasha's deployment, however that plan changed."
Mahlalela confirmed that she got increases while working as a freelancer but said they were all in line with the contracts she had signed .
However, she said she was not aware Tugwana wanted to keep her in the general manager's position despite Phasha's return to work.
mothombenia@sundayworld.co.za
Acting SABC COO accused of purge to employ friend
SABC acting COO Bessie Tugwana, the last of the two surviving executives appointed by axed COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng, allegedly tried to purge a senior staff member working in her office to make way for her "friend".
Her alleged manoeuvres have opened a can of worms including how her "friend" Marcia Mahlalela's career blossomed at the public broadcaster.
Insiders claim that Mahlalela started as a freelancer in 2014 earning R3500 per shift and was made acting general manager of operations this year.
According to Mahlalela's invoices, seen by Sunday World, she started out by assisting with creative and editorial directing for Soccer Zone, for which she was paid R3500 per shift.
The figure mushroomed to a whopping R7500 per shift a few months later as the role of specialist producer was added to her name.
SABC sources claim this was done even though the show already had three producers who were discharging the same responsibilities.
Some of the invoices were paid with only Tugwana's assistant Gugu Xaba's signature attached and were not signed by the show's executive producer and producer.
Tugwana's troubles started when she tried to extend the tenure of Mahlalela in her office by three months a month ago despite the fact that the post was not vacant and the person occupying it was back from maternity leave.
Tugwana, 62, wrote a delegation of authority letter for Mahlalela authorising her to act in her office from July 3 to October 22 while incumbent Nompumelelo Phasha was already back at work.
The e-mails indicate that Phasha challenged Tugwana's decision and filed a complaint with HR.
The decision was also challenged by suspended group executive for sports Sully Motsweni and acting group chief executive Nomsa Philiso, all citing that it will lead to irregular expenditure as the SABC would pay two people for doing the same job.
Tugwana, who was cornered to explain her decision, opted to rescind her move but also emphasised that she needed to keep Mahlalela.
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago denied Mahlalela's appointments to various managerial positions were irregular and that she was friends with Tugwana.
About attempts to shaft Phasha, he said: ". a vacancy had opened at SABC Legal after one of the senior lawyers resigned. A request was circulated to the interim board to request Nompumelelo Phasha's deployment, however that plan changed."
Mahlalela confirmed that she got increases while working as a freelancer but said they were all in line with the contracts she had signed .
However, she said she was not aware Tugwana wanted to keep her in the general manager's position despite Phasha's return to work.
mothombenia@sundayworld.co.za
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