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The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC): powerless but accountable leadership for former GCEO

Maijang Mpherwane (Industrial Development Corporation in South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa)
Kurt April (Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, UCT Graduate School of Business, Cape Town, South Africa)
Claire Barnardo (UCT Graduate School of Business, Cape Town, South Africa)

Publication date: 4 November 2019

Abstract

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes are as follows: identify the key challenges of leading a large organisation that is self-serving as compared to one that has people of integrity in its employ; understand how resilient leaders need to be to remain focussed on the task at hand while faced with resistance and controversy at every turn; demonstrate how to cultivate a culture of trust and integrity in an organisation bereft of both, and rebuild an organisation’s reputation; navigate the dynamics of having an unruly subordinate [chief operating officer (COO)] who in reality is more powerful; and develop key skills in practicing self-care in an environment where one is constantly undermined and devalued.

Case overview/synopsis

This case looks at the leadership of former GCEO Lulama Mokhobo at the South African Broadcasting Corporation SABC from 2012 to 2014 and her lived experience within the theme of empowered powerlessness. With an unsupportive board, destructive COO, and minister of communications at government level, Lulama is disempowered in her position and battles to make changes. Colleagues attest to the unusually complex dynamics that she had to navigate on a daily basis. The case details how this eroded Lulama’s self-confidence as well as her ability to lead the organisation and pushed her to resign. The SABC managed to undo the strides she made during her tenure and now finds itself in financial quagmire due to poor and questionable decisions made after her resignation as the GCEO of the organisation.

Complexity academic level

The target audience for this case comprises students enrolled in tertiary business education programmes who have already had some sort of work experience and hands-on exposure to real-world business. MBA and EMBA students, as well as executive education programmes. Including disciplines such as leadership, organisational behaviour and people management and strategy.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Disclaimer. This case is written solely for educational purposes and is not intended to represent successful or unsuccessful managerial decision-making. The authors may have disguised names; financial and other recognizable information to protect confidentiality.

Citation

Mpherwane, M., April, K. and Barnardo, C. (2019), "The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC): powerless but accountable leadership for former GCEO", , Vol. 9 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/EEMCS-06-2019-0161

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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