SABC’s acting CEO Aguma under fire

THE knives are out for the acting chief executive of the SABC, James Aguma, with the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) calling for his suspension over the mess at the SABC.

Members of Scopa yesterday accused Aguma of skipping the meeting to avoid having to explain the illegal appointment of a firm to investigate irregular expenditure of R5.1 billion at the public broadcaster.

They said he could “run but cannot hide”, and they wanted him to account for the illegal contract, as well as the rot that set in at the SABC during his tenure. The company was appointed at a cost of R25 million over three years.

Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo said she was taking into consideration the views of the committee.

“What I will do is to take to heart what you have said, and the board will act in a correct manner,” said Dlodlo.

The deputy chairperson of the SABC interim board, Mathatha Tsedu, said the committee must allow the board to act legally.

Scopa was also angry that Aguma had failed to tell the SABC interim board that he had filed an affidavit in support of Hlaudi Motsoeneng, and that he had authorised the suspended SABC’s boss’s media conference.

Vincent Smith of the ANC and his colleague, Nyami Booi, produced minutes of the SABC executives’ meeting in 2014 indicating that they were fighting over the contract.

Smith said there was clear intent from the SABC that the company be appointed at all costs.

Flouted

Scopa members said the SABC had flouted procedures in the appointment of the company.

Smith also warned that the destruction of documents at the SABC was a deliberate plan by the officials to get rid of the evidence.

David Roos of the DA accused the SABC of presenting different figures on the contract. He said when they met with the SABC in March, the contract was for R4 million, but today they were shocked to learn it was actually R25m.

Mkhuleko Hlengwa of the IFP said the SABC had gone rogue and called for an inquiry into Aguma.

The SABC also told Scopa that the case of the contract had been referred to the Special Investigating Unit.