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The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) is not taking the absence of the South African Broadcasting Corporation's (SABC's) Chief Financial Officer, Mr James Aguma, at today's meeting lightly. This is particularly because Mr Aguma, as the current Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for most of the problematic contracts that have resulted to the amount of R5bn of irregular expenditure.

Scopa is particularly interested in the outcome of the cases that have been referred to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) - particularly the irregular contract with Sekela Xabiso that amounts to R25m. The financial mismanagement of finances at the SABC has resulted in the public broadcaster being in deep financial problems, something that is adding to the already problematic environment at the SABC.

The Committee welcomes the commitment by the Interim Board that SABC employees will not be negatively impacted as a result of the financial troubles the public broadcaster is experiencing, they will get their monthly salaries without failure. The Committee also welcomes the commitments made by the Minister of Communications, Ms Ayanda Dlodlo, in working hard to sort out problems at the public broadcaster.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of Scopa, Themba Godi