Dali Mpofu intends challenging what he considers his "unilateral dismissal" as the SABC's group executive.

"I am definitely going to challenge and fight this," Mpofu said after the public broadcaster's board announced its decision to 'part ways' with Mpofu on Friday after a long and contested period of suspension.

"Following a SABC board meeting on 20 January, the corporation is announcing that the board has taken a decision to part ways with suspended group chief executive officer Adv Dali Mpofu with immediate effect," a statement read.

Mpofu said he was given a letter on Thursday informing him briefly of this decision, with an undertaking by the board to follow up with reasons for the decision. Mpofu said he objected to the term "part ways".

Although certain "overtures" had been made to him through intermediaries, nothing was considered finalised.

"It was a unilateral decision to dismiss me," he said.

He had handed the matter to his lawyers.

"My view is to get my job back," said Mpofu.

This follows an eight-month battle between the board and Mpofu. He was suspended on May 7 last year, after he suspended news chief Snuki Zikalala.

Zikalala had been accused of leaking confidential documents and an internal memorandum. The board argued that Mpofu did not have the authority to suspend Zikalala, and so suspended Mpofu.

After an independent inquiry, Zikalala was cleared of these accusations and reinstated.

Mpofu's suspension went before the courts several times, with him being un-suspended and re-suspended in what the Freedom Front Plus believe is part of a fight for political control of the broadcaster.

"This sacking of Adv Mpofu is definitely not the last step in the developing fights for the control of the SABC," the party's leader Pieter Mulder said.

"In the short-term the Mbeki supporters are busy winning, but in the long-run the Zuma supporters will most probably win while South African viewers and listeners are continuously the losers."

The current SABC board has been mired in controversy over claims that it is pro ousted president Thabo Mbeki.

Unions and civil society bodies also question its ability to ensure that the public broadcaster carries out its mandate.

The Christian Democratic Alliance suggested the Independent Communications Authority intervene in what it considers childish behaviour, predicting that taxpayers will ultimately have to carry further legal costs.

It accused Icasa of "decimating" Christian broadcasters during transformation efforts, yet allowing "this blatant mismanagement" to continue.