Scopa to set the Hawks on SABC execs

Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) yesterday roasted SABC acting executives for not being able to fully explain the R5.1 billion in irregular expenditure.

Scopa vowed to hound the broadcaster’s leadership until that explanation is forthcoming.

Briefing Scopa, acting SABC group chief executive James Aguma was time and again interrupted mid-sentence as he failed to satisfy MPs with his answers, or rather lack of answers, about who was responsible for the irregular expenditure, as well as fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R92.4 million.

ANC MP Mnyami Booi was the first to take on Aguma over the late submission of documents to the committee, saying: “We really don’t need a lecture. Can you explain why the documents are late?”

He implied that the SABC executives were treating the MPs like minors, adding: “If you want children, go to a school.”

The Economic Freedom Fighters’ Ntombovuyo Mente was equally incensed, saying the presentation did not explain who was responsible for the billions in irregular spending. “We are not going to get the information … we are denied this information deliberately … and we are not going to entertain this.”

Aguma tried in vain to provide answers. “The reason the information is late is that we had to look at the quantum of information that we are trying to work through to disclose the opening balance of irregular expenditure for 2016,” he said.

But MPs didn’t buy that, saying the irregular expenditure was identified as far back as 2014, and asking why there had been no consequences for those responsible.

Aguma went on the defensive again, telling MPs that an investigation into the irregular expenditure would be concluded by month-end.

“We have been trying to deal with qualifications on irregular, wasteful and fruitless expenditure from the financial year 2014.

“Our plans are to finalise the investigation to get an unqualified audit report this financial year [ending March 31].”

Booi, however, refused to be pacified, and accused the SABC executives of “hiding and burning papers” relating to the irregular expenditure to pull the wool over MPs eyes.

“Misleading parliament is a crime. Have you sent the Hawks on holiday?” he added.

Booi suggested that Scopa write to the Hawks requesting that the specialised police unit carry out a forensic probe at the SABC. He added that the MPs would be relentless in their pursuit of the truth.

Inkatha Freedom Party MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the SABC was not an island and should stop taking taxpayers for granted. – ANA