SABC bosses get grilling at hearing

SABC group executives walked out a little worse for wear yesterday after the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) briefing on the state broadcaster’s annual report.

One MP in particular‚ the ANC’s Mnyamezeli Booi‚ laid into acting chief executive James Aguma for a section of the report that detailed a skills programme for further training for supply chain management employees.

“You are saying that you are trying to ‘up-skill’ people to improve on procurement, but we see from our own research where issues of HR [concern] have been opened up by our researchers‚” Booi said.

“There hasn’t been good assessment of the people who you are employing.

“Some have criminal records‚ and some don’t have certificates.

“Who are you really training? And who are we talking to?

“Who are these 3 000 and something people we are dealing with?”

Booi said the problem surrounding the appropriate vetting of staff was a contributing factor to the R5.1-billion of irregular and wasteful expenditure the SABC incurred.

He then warned Aguma that Scopa would not be intimidated.

“You have a record that when you are interrogated‚ you threaten people. When people talk about your institution‚ they disappear.

“We are not going to be threatened‚ and we will get to the bottom of this R5.1-billion.”

In response‚ Aguma said: “The issue of ‘up-skilling’ is with members of the supply chain management team that we have.

“One of the weaknesses we picked up is that they have not even been vetted as required by the Public Financial Management Act.

“We as the SABC have tried to discuss the vetting issue and it’s a matter that is being raised by the unions that if someone is already employed how would you go about vetting?

“But I agree with you that vetting has not been done and that is one area of concern‚” Aguma said.