Muthambi, one of five, may have misled SABC probe

PARLIAMENT: A report compiled by Parliament’s Legal Services Unit identifying five people, including Communications Minister Faith Muthambi, who may have misled an inquiry into the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), will be put before MPs today to deliberate on a way forward.

Yesterday, Parliament’s communication portfolio committee chairperson Humphrey Maxegwana said while the report was tabled last week, MPs only received a copy this week.

“The report outlines how Muthambi may have misled the committee when she denied putting pressure on then board members to appoint her friend, the ever controversial Hlaudi Motsoeneng as SABC chief operating officer. If found to be true, it would be a breach of the Powers and Privileges Act.

“In paragraph 23.2.2 (of the SABC inquiry report) reference is made to the Board Minutes of 7 July 2014 which appear to contradict the then minister’s evidence that she did not pressurise the board to appoint Mr Motsoeneng in the COO position,” the report from Parliament’s lawyers said.

Former board chairperson Mbulaheni Maguvhe was also found to have possibly lied when he told the inquiry in December last year he had no knowledge of the firing of the “SABC 8”, the group of journalists who were fired and then rehired after objecting to changing editorial policies at the broadcaster.

One of Maguvhe’s predecessors Ben Ngubane is also listed in the report. Ngubane testified that former chief executive Phil Molefe had pursued a contract with rival television station ANN7, a Guptaowned company, though the contract was signed after Molefe had left the SABC.

The alleged failure of former company secretary Theresa Geldenhuys meant she also made it to the list.

The lawyers suggest a probe be done into former SABC chief financial officer, who has since resigned, James Aguma’s submission of an e-mail stating that a new memorandum of incorporation, which gave Muthambi more powers at the SABC, was authentic.

While the report stated that no guilty finding had been made against the five, those who give false evidence before a committee could be liable to a fine or jail time not exceeding two years, or both.