Muthambi and Motsoeneng now responsible for SABC losses of close to a billion  

29 September 2016 

The net losses of R411 million announced by the SABC today brings the total of losses over the past two years under the watch of Communications Minister, Faith Muthambi, and disgraced COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, to R805 million - close to a billion rand.  

This is in addition to the R394 million losses recorded in the 2014/15 financial year. 

The DA maintains that it is possible for the SABC to be managed profitably. It has done so in the past; there is no reason why it cannot continue to do so. This requires proper financial management and the right leadership with the requisite skills to steer the public broadcaster from the red into the black. The SABC currently has neither. 

The DA will conduct a thorough analysis of the SABC’s Annual Report once tabled in Parliament. We need to know how much the SABC has wasted, which contracts were approved without going to tender, how much its top executive were paid in bonuses and how much was spent on litigation.  

We look forward to participating in the parliamentary inquiry into the SABC, which should be broadened to cover all issues currently facing the public broadcaster; not just the board’s failures. We trust that this won’t be yet another empty promise by the ANC Chief Whip, Jackson Mthembu, and that it will indeed take place. 

It is possible for the SABC to be aa public broadcaster South Africa can be proud of. The DA is committed to ensuring that this happens.  

Issued by Karabo Tledima, DA Press Officer, 29 September 2016