A PROBE into fruitless and wasteful expenditure totalling R5,1 billion must be instituted at the SABC, and those responsible dealt with accordingly.
This recommendation is likely to be adopted by the parliamentary ad hoc committee probing the fitness of the SABC board.
The report also recommends the board be officially dissolved and a temporary board put in charge to start the investigation. The committee has not yet finalised its recommendations, but a draft report leaked on Tuesday is calling for heads to roll.
The report said this was highlighted in the auditor-general’s annual report into the 2015/2016 financial year.
It identified R5,1 billion in “fruitless and wasteful expenditure” at the SABC in “prior years” leading up to 2016.
It has been widely circulated on social media platforms.
“Steps must be taken to recover irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure wherever it is possible,” read the draft report.
It also noted that the SABC board, as the accounting authority, had failed in its duty to prevent wasteful expenditure.
Commenting on the testimonies given during the inquiry, the report states: “Testimony suggested Hlaudi Motsoeneng was at the centre of the divisions within all the boards between 2009 and 2016.”
Former members, including former group chief executives, revealed the boards were usually divided along two lines. The draft report said the division was between those concerned with taking care of the duties entrusted to them, and those who were pursuing their own agenda which was not in the public broadcaster’s best interest.
The report also cited the involvement of Communications Minister Faith Muthambi in the appointment of Motsoeneng as chief operating officer.
A number of procedures are said to have been disregarded during Motsoeneng’s appointment.
