Scopa seeks Aguma’s head over SABC rot

THE knives are out for SABC acting chief executive James Aguma, with the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) calling for his suspension over the mess at the broadcaster.

Members of Scopa yesterday accused Aguma of skipping the meeting to avoid having to explain the illegal appointment of a firm to investigate irregular expenditure of R5.1 billion at the public broadcaster.

They said he could “run but cannot hide”, and they wanted him to account for the illegal contract, as well as the rot that set in at the SABC during his tenure. The company was appointed at a cost of R25 million over three years.

Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo said she would not discuss the suspension of any official in an open meeting, but was taking the views of the committee into consideration.

Scopa was also angry that Aguma had failed to tell the SABC interim board that he had filed an affidavit in support of former chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, and that he had authorised the suspended SABC’s boss’s media conference.

Aguma had initially told the interim board he was off-sick, but later the board learnt of the role he played at Motsoeneng’s disciplinary hearing.

Vincent Smith of the ANC and his colleague Nyami Booi produced minutes of the SABC executives’ meeting in 2014 that they were fighting over the contract.

Smith warned that the destruction of documents at the SABC was a deliberate plan by the officials to get rid of the evidence.

“Let’s call a spade a spade. The destruction of the records is to destroy incriminating evidence,” said Smith.

David Roos of accused the SABC different the DA of presenting figures on the contract.

He said when they met the SABC in March it said the contract was for R4m, but were shocked to learn it was R25m.

This was the same contradiction raised by Vuyo Mente of the EFF. She accused the SABC of putting different figures on the contract.

Mkhuleko Hlengwa of the IFP called for an inquiry into Aguma.

The SABC told Scopa that the case of the contract has been referred to the Special Investigating Unit.

The proclamation of the investigation was likely to be issued in June.

Picture: DAVID RITCHIE GRILLED: SABC board member Krish Naidoo. The SABC briefed the standing committee on public accounts on outstanding issues related to irregular expenditure at the broadcaster.