SABC probe to deepen as huge losses mount

THE Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) will soon call a meeting with the SABC interim board and Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to discuss the depth of the probe by the SIU into corruption at the public broadcaster.

Scopa chairperson Themba Godi said yesterday that the meeting would have to be set up soon because of the matter’s urgency. This followed another meeting with the board two weeks ago, and its decision to suspend acting chief executive James Aguma.

He was suspended by the board last Friday after calls by Scopa and the portfolio committee on communications for action to be taken against him for alleged wrongdoing.

The SABC interim board had told Scopa the SIU was waiting for the proclamation before it could begin with its investigation into corruption.

Godi said the meeting would help them to get to some of the cases of corruption at the public broadcaster.

He said the SIU would get the proclamation to begin with the investigation next month to look at the myriad cases from reports handed to the unit.

The SABC is in deep financial trouble. Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodlo revealed in Parliament last week that it suffered another loss of R509 million in the fourth quarter. This followed combined losses of R433m in the first and second quarters.

The SABC interim board said the auditors were busy with the books and would finalise their audit by the end of June. The audited financial statements and extent of the losses would be known then.

Presently, the losses of the three quarters stand at close to R1 billion. The SABC has indicated that it needs a rescue package to get back on to a sound financial footing.

It has struggled to pay some service providers millions of rand, and there were also fears it would not be able to pay its staff members. But the interim board assured Scopa last week the SABC would be able to pay its staff, despite the financial problems.