Aguma resigns but not off the hook, DA says

SUSPENDED acting SABC chief executive James Aguma resigned yesterday in the middle of a disciplinary hearing probing his actions while leading the troubled national broadcaster.

But the DA said Aguma’s sudden resignation would not let him off the hook, while the Pan Africanist Congress said it found his resignation suspicious and questionable.

The DA’s Mike Waters said the party nevertheless welcomed Aguma’s resignation.

“However‚ Aguma’s decision to resign instead of facing a disciplinary hearing does not mean he is going to be let off the hook for his part in the institutional breakdown at the SABC.”

The fact that Aguma was not completely off the hook was confirmed by SABC interim board chairwoman Khanyisile Kweyama.

“We have said that we have handed over a number of matters to the SIU [special investigating unit] and some of them relate to some of the charges around dishonesty and possible criminal activities. The SIU will conduct the process and not ourselves.”

However‚ the internal disciplinary charges he was facing would now be dropped‚ she said.

Waters said Aguma faced serious accusations‚ including tender irregularities and overseeing massive fruitless and wasteful expenditure‚ and reports that his resignation would result in the SABC withdrawing charges were concerning.

Equally so were reports that he was set for a golden handshake.

The PAC’s Kenneth Mokgatlhe said it had been found Aguma lied under oath before a parliamentary committee looking into the SABC‚ adding that lying under oath on its own was a crime that was punishable. – TimesLIVE