Hlaudi’s massive R4.2 million payday!

30 September 2016 - 16:25 By TMG Entertainment
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

The annual report released by the public broadcaster has revealed that controversial SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng received a massive salary hike, taking his annual package from R3.8-million to R4.2million in the past financial year.

The report was released at a press conference held by the broadcaster on Thursday and comes after it was announced earlier this week that Motsoeneng would be taking up a new position as group executive for corporate affairs.

Bessie Tugwana, who previously held the position for a mere seven weeks prior to Motsoeneng’s appointment, has been shifted to a project management unit.

The SABC has, however, refused to confirm whether or not Motsoeneng will receive another salary increase in his new role.

  •  

It was revealed in Parliament last year that Motsoeneng’s salary has been increased three times, which according to damning findings made previously by the public protector amounted to an abuse of power.

It was reported that he also received a bonus of between R10-and R11-million, but he refused to be drawn on questions around the claims at a media brieifing at the SABC’s head office in Auckland Park earlier this week.

Similarly, the public broadcaster is refusing to give figures on what it cost to send two executives to a television networking conference at the Hilton Mauritius Resort and Spa, which began on Thursday.

  •  

The Times on Friday reported that it had obtained a confidentail report revealing a litany of failings by the SABC’s acting CEO, James Aguma, which weren’t mentioned at the annual results press briefing.

Aguma sought to downplay a loss of R411-million for the 2015-2016 financial year, up from R395-million last year.

He blamed the modest government subsidy, the SABC's public-service mandate - which includes the requirement that it broadcast in all 11 official languages and screen sports events that "yielded negative returns" - increasing post-retirement costs and the global economic slowdown.

  •  

But the auditor-general's "final management report" to the SABC, dated August 15, red-flagged the broadcaster's financial viability.

"Overall, the results of the above financial indicator evaluation is assessed as 'red': (unfavourable, intervention required)," the report said.

It highlighted that irregular expenditure of R5.1-billion "identified in the current and previous year, was not investigated to determine if a person was liable for the expenditure".

The report revealed that the SABC had awarded 71 contracts worth R150.7-million to "close family members, partners and associates of officials".

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now