BLOOMING SABC BLOOMERS MUST STOP

Stories of gross mismanagement, maladministration, cronyism, incompetence, nepotism, financial misappropriation and so on are common in South Africa of late.

But when I heard that the gaffe-prone SABC paid more than R60m to acquire the rights to televise English Premiership matches that never were, I was lost for words.

This is the same SABC that has just lost their exclusive rights to show PSL matches when arrogance and a lack of vision saw SuperSport International pull the rug from under their feet.

As if that bloomer was not adequate to jolt the executives at Auckland Park into some serious action, a critical security breach occurred on the night when the Springboks won the rugby World Cup.

Viewers were shocked to the bone to hear a skirmish in the background live in the studio at half time when what appeared to be a drunk or overzealous lout burst into the establishment and tried to make an announcement on air.

An explanation, let alone an apology was not offered to the perplexed viewers at home. No one knows what went on and it seems as if this, like so many other aberrations at the SABC, will be swept under the carpet.

Two weeks ago, I was called by someone from the SABC asking me to give my views on a particular topic on one of their TV shows. I duly obliged despite the fact that the request came two hours before the show.

Surely preparations for serious programmes are done days in advance. My contribution to the show was by telephone and I obviously took the call from a quiet place away from any TV screen.

To my horror, my boss hauled me over the coals after the interview for what he termed bringing this great newspaper into disrepute. He tore into me: “Who do you think you are? What makes you a journalist?” Upon my enquiring about the source of his displeasure, he told me that I had only been credited as a sports journalist without saying which newspaper I was representing.

I then understood his anger but was not surprised. After all, we were dealing with the SABC. I believe the English Premiership rights goof was a serious blunder.

We all know the SABC culture of protecting incompetent individuals like a lioness protecting her cubs but this is one incident in which the public broadcaster could redeem itself and regain public confidence.

The public cannot tolerate a situation where their taxes and TV licence money is being flushed down the drain like this and no one is held responsible.

Heads must not only roll, they must tumble.