The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has permanently appointed Lungile Binza as its chief operating officer (COO) after serving in an acting capacity since February 2024.
The public broadcaster fired former COO Ian Plaatjes in June 2024. Plaatjes had been suspended since February 2024 to face disciplinary action for failing to disclose that the third party running SABC+ would get an advertising revenue share.
“Mr Binza has been serving as the Acting COO since February 2024, demonstrating exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to the SABC’s mission,” the broadcaster said in a statement announcing Binza’s appointment.
“Before this acting role, he was the Group Executive: Technology, leading significant advancements in the organisation’s digital transformation initiatives.”
Binza is a software engineer by profession. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Mathematical Statistics.
He also holds a postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute for Business Science, a Master of Commerce in Information Systems, and a Master in Business Administration and General Management.
His master’s degrees were from the University of Cape Town and the University of Pretoria.
“He is currently finalising his PhD in Ethical Artificial Intelligence,” the public broadcaster added.
Binza has over two decades of experience in technology and executive management, having held high-ranking positions in various sectors, including banking and manufacturing.
“His extensive expertise and visionary approach have been instrumental in driving innovation and operational excellence within the SABC,” the broadcaster stated.
Binza will continue to manage the SABC’s operations, and the public broadcaster’s board is confident that his leadership will enable it to thrive.
Plaatjes, his predecessor, held the position between November 2019 and June 2024, the effective date of his dismissal following the disciplinary procedures.
However, Plaatjes said his termination was “nefarious”, stating that the SABC fabricated the charges leading to his and former group executive for video entertainment, Merlin Naiker’s, dismissals.
In September 2024, he said he would present his case before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) to validate his conduct.
“I have full confidence that the CCMA process will vindicate my conduct while employed as Chief Operations Officer by the SABC,” he said.
He believes the CCMA will overturn the findings of the SABC’s disciplinary hearings.
“Naicker and I had sought agreements with the SABC on two occasions for the disciplinary hearing to be open to the media, as we have nothing to hide, and we believe that it is in the public’s interest to have access to the facts of the matter,” he added.
The issue stems from claims that the former COO had failed to disclose a provision in the SABC+ business plan that a 7.5% share of advertising revenue would be paid to the platform operator.
“The costs were transparent and known to all SABC Exco members before the Exco approval of the business plan on 10 October 2022 and the revised business plan on 7 November 2022,” said Plaatjes.
“The 7.5% cost was also contained to the cost of the replaced digital advert and not the total cost of the revenue generated from SABC+.”
