SABC grapples with SIU probe
THE SABC is seemingly spiralling out of control as it grapples with damning findings by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) relating to an irregularly awarded security tender.
Exacerbating its woes are inquiry findings of rampant sexual harassment, a board on the verge of collapse and the mirroring of laptops of dismissed employees, who claim to have been dismissed and treated unfairly by the board while all were embroiled in the security tender scandal.
All this while thousands of workers continue to face an uncertain future at the public broadcaster.
This week, four board members, John Matisson, Mathatha Tsedu, Krish Naidoo and Khanyisile Kweyama, resigned after documents seen by Independent Media from the SIU, confirmed the board awarded a security tender worth R185 million irregularly.
In the same documents the
SIU found there was financial misconduct and contravention of sections 38 and 45 of the Public Finance Management Act for failing to act in the best interest of the SABC.
ROAD TO COLLAPSE
The board is on the verge of collapse and is struggling to keep the SABC afloat financially, while more than 1000 staff are facing retrenchments as the state broadcaster said it would not be able to pay salaries by February if the staff numbers were not cut down.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday accepted and confirmed the resignations of four board members. Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, chairperson of the portfolio committee on communications in Parliament, said she was concerned as the resignations came at a time when the other four vacancies were to be filled, leaving the remaining board without a quorum.
She called for an exit interview for the board members to ascertain the real motives of their resignations.
In the midst of the tender irregularities that rocked the institution earlier this year, the trail of destruction was so bad that the SABC’S general manager of supply chain management (SCM), Ayanda Mkhize, had a breakdown and was admitted to hospital for major depression after losing her job.
Simon Molaudzi, the institution’s head of SCM, was also sacked by the board in the midst of the SIU investigation. The pair claim they were incessantly harassed and “spied on” while the SIU conducted its investigation.
Board members stand accused of appointing Mafoko Security Patrols as the preferred bidder when they came second in the bidding process.
This led to litigation by the winning contractor, Mjayeli Security.
In documents, the SIU said it was preparing disciplinary and criminal referrals and would request the courts to set aside the contract between the SABC and Mafoko Security Patrols.
“The SIU will also request a just and equitable order seeking to recover money lost,” it said. Further information obtained reveals that in March this year, on the advice of the SABC’S attorneys, Molaudzi was requested an affidavit which stated that the SABC should oppose the highest scoring bidder’s litigation.
Molaudzi refused, as that would mean breaking the law.
“As soon as I refused, my access to the network was terminated and when I queried this with IT, I was told it was an instruction from HR.
“What followed this was my suspension which was not even on a letterhead,” said Molaudzi in an affidavit.
However, responding through their lawyer, Tebogo Malatji, the four SABC board members denied that there were any findings, despite evidence to the contrary.