Cabinet has noted with concern the recent developments at the SABC, SAA and Eskom, with the respective ministers expected to report to Cabinet following discussions with the entities, acting Cabinet spokesperson Phumla Williams said.

“Cabinet has noted with concern the recent develops at the SABC, SAA and Eskom. The line Ministers have been mandated to engage with the respective institutions and report back to Cabinet as soon as possible,” she said on Thursday at a post Cabinet briefing.

It emerged on Monday that the chairperson of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board, Dr Ben Ngubane and his deputy Thami ka Plaatjie have resigned.

The decision on whether to accept the resignations or not lies with President Jacob Zuma, who received a joint letter of resignation from both Ngubane and Plaatjie.

The resignations come as Communications Minister Dina Pule appealed for the board to resolve its internal disagreements.

The President is currently considering the resignations.

“… The resignations have been sent to the President and he is applying his mind and he will respond to that. As Cabinet, there is an appreciation that there needs to be a broader discussion,” explained Williams.

Last month, the SABC board released Hlaudi Motsoeneng from his duties as Acting Chief Operating Officer (COO). He went back to his old position of being Group Executive of Provinces. 

Head of Radio News and Current Affairs Mike Siluma is acting as COO until April. He has also resigned. The board said the process of appointing a permanent COO will be concluded once all legal impediments have been completed.

On the issue of South African Airways (SAA), the Department of Public Enterprises announced on Monday that Minister Malusi Gigaba removed acting CEO Vuyisile Kona from the board of the airline following a shareholders’ meeting.

Gigaba adopted a resolution removing Kona from the board following the convening of a meeting, in terms of section 71 of the Companies Act, to consider a resolution to remove Kona.

Gigaba considered it prudent and in the interest of SAA that there be stability and cohesion in the leadership of the airline.

Kona, who had been placed in the position of acting chief executive officer, was placed on precautionary suspension in February.

Williams made reference to media reports that there were talks of the resignation of Eskom CEO Brian Dames.