Minister Pule must account for SABC deception 

Communications Minister Dina Pule must explain why she deceived South Africa about the success of the SABC's turnaround strategy in the light of the revelations of continuing corruption at the public broadcaster published in the Sunday Times.

Recently the Minister said she was satisfied with the SABC's progress but this was either an attempt to gloss over the truth or she is hopelessly out of touch with what is actually happening in the corporation.

The revelations also point to the failure of the acting Chief Operating Officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, to exercise the calibre of management controls needed to stop the systemic rot at the SABC, despite glowing affirmations of his achievements by the SABC board.

The fact that the board has given him oversight of the news operations when he clearly cannot manage the operational issues of the SABC beggars belief. It also undermines the editorial integrity of corporation. This move could indicate that he is being positioned to take over the CEO's role from Lulama Mokhobo, who is in trouble with the board for having made an unauthorised payment of R1 million to the ICT Indaba, as well as approving R2 million worth of airtime to the event. 

At the SABC presentation to the portfolio committee on communications a fortnight ago, Mr Motsoeneng was at pains to point out that he had not been informed of the ICT Indaba deal.

The report on the Special Investigating Unit's progress with charges against corrupt SABC employees, which was prepared for the committee by Mr Motsoeneg's office, was rejected by the portfolio committee because it gave little new information.

The board is expected to return to the committee later this term with a decipherable update on the efforts being made to criminally charge current and former SABC employees, as well as details of the new allegations that have now been revealed by the Sunday Times.

I will write to committee chairperson Eric Kholwane to request that he summon Minister Pule to appear before the committee with the SABC board and executive management to explain why she is satisfied with the SABC's turnaround in the face of these serious revelations.

Statement issued by Marian Shinn MP, DA Shadow Minister of Communications, October 7 2012

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