Parliament targets SABC
The Maluti-A-Phofung municipality in the Free State is throwing a “homecoming” concert for former SABC chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng in Phuthaditjhaba, with music stars such as Rebecca Malope and Dr Malinga billed to perform.
A poster picturing Motsoeneng, mayor Vusi Tshabalala and the municipality’s code of arms was circulated inviting residents to the bash at a local stadium today.
Spokesperson Kedibone Sentle would not confirm whether the municipality, which included areas such as Harrismith and Qwaqwa, was footing the bill for the concert.
Popular gospel artist Malope, Free State’s own gospel star Teboho Moloi, convicted killer Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye, recently released on parole, Dr Malinga and Doc Shebeleza were some of the top artists scheduled to entertain revellers.
Motsoeneng, whose tenure was marked by financial and political controversy, was replaced by Keobokile Mosweu as head of corporate affairs, after he was denied leave to appeal the Western Cape High Court decision that set aside his appointment as COO.
Last week, a report compiled by an ad hoc committee of parliament into the SABC was adopted by the National Assembly.
It recommended, among others, that President Jacob Zuma seriously consider firing Communications Minister Faith Muthambi, on whose watch governance at the public broadcaster had degenerated.
Democratic Alliance councillor in Maluti-A-Phofung Alison Oates said her party has launched a probe into the cost of the event and who would be paying for it.
There was “absolutely nothing to celebrate about Motsoeneng’s sketchy career and his plunging of the SABC into financial chaos”, she said.
“It cannot be right for a municipality in serious debt to celebrate the disgraced Motsoeneng.” – ANA
– Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) is not letting the SABC off the hook and will be knocking on its doors in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, next week.
The committee has also planned an oversight visit to the SA Post Office (Sapo) head office to get a clearer understanding of Sapo’s capacity to make grant payments, following the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) debacle.
Chairperson Themba Godi said yesterday the committee was committed to keeping a continuous eye over the national broadcaster to clear its irregular expenditure and fruitless and wasteful spending.
The SABC has notched up irregular expenditure of about R5 billion and fruitless and wasteful expenditure of about R127 million.
“We want to get the SABC right,” Godi said. “This will see Scopa engaging with the leadership of the SABC until we are satisfied that the financial mismanagement rot is cleansed.”
Godi also took a swipe at the SABC and other public institutions for suggesting that they were not accountable to parliament.
He was referring to an earlier comment by acting group chief executive officer James Aguma that parliament had to be careful.
Fingers also have to be pointed at politicians for not taking partial responsibility for the problems at the SABC.
“Accountability is a political and a constitutional right. Officials must choose their words carefully,” Godi said.
The committee would also meet Sapo to gain a picture of the entity’s capacity and state of readiness to take over social grant payouts. Sassa has also been invited to attend the meeting.
“It is our unconfirmed understanding that the ministerial advisory committee recommended, the use of the Post Office, as from April 1, 2017,” Godi said.
Accountability is a political and a constitutional right. Themba Godi Scopa chairperson