Minister Mokonyane rejects SCOPA assertions on SABC
Minister of Communication, Ms Nomvula Mokonyane, has expressed her strong rejection of a statement made by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) in which the Committee accuses the Minister of failing to provide the requisite support to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in its efforts to attain a government guarantee.
“The statement by SCOPA is a deliberate misrepresentation of facts as presented on record and in Committee by the Chairperson of the Board of the SABC and the department of communications in the meeting held on 14 November 2018.”
“The Minister has since her appointment provided all necessary support and guidance to the SABC in an effort to resolve the current financial challenges that confront the Broadcaster. Meetings were held with the former Minister of Finance and the National Treasury resulting in the authorization of an increase in borrowing limits of the SABC, to R 1,2 billion by the National Treasury” said Ministerial Spokesperson, Mlimandlela Ndamase.
The Minister, responding to questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), on 01 November 2018, stated that she had requested an urgent meeting with the new Minister of Finance, Mr. Tito Mboweni, who was abroad at the time, to again look into further interventions on the financial quagmire of the SABC.
“There is no empirical evidence or factual basis for the statements made by the Chairperson of SCOPA, Hon. T. Godi. These statements are a political ploy based on falsehoods and are aimed at problematizing the Minister of Communications. They are insensitive to the anxieties of thousands of SABC employees who find themselves threatened with retrenchments and who expect the genuine and principled support of government and parliament” added Ndamase.
The Minister will continue to responsibly exercise her executive authority and to this extent, is on course to meet with the Finance Minister in the very near future to discuss the SABC’s financial position and turn-around plan.
Media enquiries:
Mlimandlela Ndamase
Cell: 083 480 0014
E-mail: Mlimandlela@doc.gov.za
