A report in the Sunday Times alleges that SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng has concealed a number of financial problems at the SABC from Parliament, including a R500 million loss experienced by the public broadcaster.
On Thursday 23 April, the Western Cape High Court ruled that Motsoeneng be suspended for 60 days pending a disciplinary inquiry as was recommended by public protector Thuli Madonsela in 2014. The Democratic Alliance (DA) applied to have Motsoeneng suspended after the SABC board failed to take the necessary corrective actions which Madonsela had proposed. “The board should take disciplinary action against Mr Motsoeneng for his dishonesty relating to the misrepresentation of his qualification, abuse of power and improper conduct in the appointments and salary increments of Ms Sully Motsweni (SABC head of compliance and acting group executive),” Madonsela said, according to a report by Mail and Guardian in February 2014.
The Sunday Times report also reveals the following details taken from the SABC’s income statement, dated 31 March:
• Over the past two years salary costs have increased by more than R500 million
• Over the past year “other income” has decreased by R120 million, due to management errors such as negotiating low building rentals
• In the last year the cost of programming, film and sports rights increased by R500 million
• The SABC spends R1 billion to collect TV licences worth R2 billion, wasting 50% of collection costs
Despite these findings, Motsoeneng last week told Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications, “The SABC, financially, we are sustainable.”
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) stated that it will be lodging an immediate appeal on the suspension ruling by the Western Cape High Court.
Source: Sunday Times
