Minister rejects Scopa's assertion on support to SABC

Friday, November 16, 2018

Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane has rejected the statement made by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) accusing her 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’s spokesperson Mlimandlela Ndamase said on Friday.

Ndamase said 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 authorisation of an increase in borrowing limits of the SABC to R1.2 billion by the National Treasury,” he said.

When the Minister was responding to questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on 1 November, she said she had requested an urgent meeting with Finance Minister Tito Mboweni to again look into further interventions into the financial situation of the SABC.

At the time the Finance Minister was abroad.

“There is no empirical evidence or factual basis for the statements made by the Chairperson of SCOPA, Themba Godi. 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,” Ndamase said.

He said the Minister will continue to responsibly exercise her executive authority and to this extent, she is on course to meet with the Finance Minister in the very near future to discuss the SABC’s financial position and turnaround plan. – SAnews.gov.za