Golding claims HCI suspension is result of overriding political agenda

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Golding claims HCI suspension is result of overriding political agenda --

Fri, 24 Oct 2014 12:22

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In an affidavit lodged with the Cape Town Labour Court, Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI) chairman Marcel Golding explained why he believes he is being forced out of the group, which is a listed holding company with stakes in a number of corporations including free-to-air channel e.tv, by the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU).

Golding, who is CEO of e.tv s sister company Sabido Productions, states that the charges relate to Sabido s purchase of shares in Ellies, a JSE-listed company. It is alleged that I did so without the necessary Board s authority. I acted in good faith and at the time believed to be in Sabido s best interests in purchasing the shares, he said.

Golding believes that John Copelyn and Yunis Shaik, both of whom are directors of HCI, are the driving forces behind the sudden suspension and said, The disciplinary hearing has been launched after months of attempts to get me to relinquish the chair of the board of HCI and resign as CEO of e.tv and Sabido as a result of my refusal to permit e.tv to be used for political purposes by a trade union that is invested in the group.

According to Golding, SACTWU has tirelessly tried to influence e.tv news editorial in order to further its own agenda.

I am vehemently opposed to any interference with the independence and integrity of editorial content and this tension is what led to the fracture of alliances within the connected companies. When those attempts failed, the disciplinary action was initiated, said Golding.

A disciplinary hearing on the matter is due to take place today, Friday 23 October.

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Hosken Consolidated Investments suspends Marcel Golding

On 22 October 2014, Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI) a listed holding company with significant stakes in casino chain Tsogo Sun Holdings, private free-to-air channel e.tv and Golden Arrow Bus Service, among others announced the suspension of its executive chairman Marcel Golding pending a disciplinary hearing into gross misconduct .

Golding, who has been chairman of HCI since 1997, was not available for comment, but HCI said in a statement that the suspended chairman had started legal proceedings to block his suspension and the hearing that is scheduled to begin on Monday, 27 October.

Golding, who served as an MP after 1994 and as a national general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, is the largest individual shareholder of HCI.

HCI in a statement remained tight lipped about the reasons behind the sudden suspension, saying only that the decision had been made by the sitting of a special subcommittee mandated by the HCI board, which included members of HCI s audit committee and social and ethics subcommittees.

Source: Mail & Guardian

Growing DTH satellite TV in SA

Global satellite operator SES has announced a 15-year contract with Platco Digital, a sister company of the South African free-to-air (FTA) commercial broadcaster e.tv, to broadcast a new FTA service in South Africa, with future plans to expand across Southern Africa.

The contract for two transponders, with an option for additional capacity in 2014, will allow the Direct-to-Home (DTH) transmission of a new TV channel platform by Platco Digital to audiences in South Africa s urban and remote areas. SES will provide the satellite capacity on the SES-5 satellite at 5 degrees East, one of the company s flagship orbital slots, which supports customers developing the Digital DTH TV markets in Africa.

Platco Digital and e.tv are owned by Sabido Investments (Pty) Limited, a South African media group with holdings in a variety of broadcasting, content, production and distribution businesses.

This agreement is an important step for the growth of the major South African FTA broadcaster and the development of DTH TV reception in Africa s dynamic emerging markets, said Ferdinand Kayser, chief commercial officer of SES. It shows that satellite can help broadcasters overcome the challenges of terrestrial coverage, reach large audiences and extend their services with FTA programmes. Based on our extensive experience in other parts of the world, SES is well established to provide broadcasters with the highest quality satellite capacity to build a high-value neighbourhood and grow DTH satellite TV across the continent.

Sabido Investment s CEO Marcel Golding said, Platco Digital will offer local and international television businesses the opportunity to broadcast FTA channels on the DTH platform, in addition to the digital terrestrial television and Mobile TV platforms. Sabido is excited about this new multi-platform initiative, which will provide South African and African viewers more entertaining, informative and educational programming for free.

Gordon departs Film Afrika for new venture

After 16 years at South African production and service company Film Afrika, head of physical production Vlokkie Gordon is leaving at the end of March to head up a new production division for Sabido Investments.

Gordon oversaw Film Afrika s growth from three people and a dog operating out of a garage in Cape Town into a fully integrated business that has successfully managed nearly R2bn in local production spend. Calculated at an economic multiplier of 5, this translates to an extraordinary R10bn in local jobs and economic activity.

In her new incarnation, Gordon will work closely with Marcel Golding (known in the industry as the CEO of free-to-air commercial broadcaster e.tv) to produce films and TV productions for distribution locally as well as internationally via UK-based Sabido affiliate Powercorp.

During her tenure at Film Afrika Gordon nurtured one of the finest production teams in the country and leaves the company in the v

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