The SABC is experiencing no financial crisis. In fact, the auditor-general is \u201cvery happy\u201d with the state of the public broadcaster\u2019s finances, said SABC board member, Aaron Tshidzumba on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He was part of a delegation from the public broadcaster, which also included Communications Minister Faith Muthambi, who briefed Parliament\u2019s Portfolio Committee on Communications on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The SABC will table it\u2019s annual financial report on September 30 2016 and the auditor-general, Tshidzumba said, only highlighted one matter. This signifies progress, he said.<\/p>\n
James Aguma, new CEO at the SABC, also slammed the negative reports about the public broadcaster, denying that there\u2019s \u201cchaos\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cChaos is such an interesting word,\u201d he said, reiterating that the public broadcaster has made significant progress with its financial reporting.<\/p>\n
Aguma further said the SABC was not making losses, but that it was rather \u201ccarrying costs\u201d for delivering a service to the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to paint this picture: Imagine I need to compete against Wayde van Niekerk [the South African 400m athlete who recently won a gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games], but they put a 10kg bag on my shoulders. What would happen?\u201d<\/p>\n
This is what running public money is about, said Aguma.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe SABC is carrying the 10kg bag. I challenge anyone to make a profit at the SABC without having to cut sports and other important programmes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can switch off the news and you\u2019ll have a billion (rand) in profit,\u201d Aguma said.<\/p>\n
He also took issue with those who criticised the SABC for deciding to no longer read out newspaper headlines on the air in the mornings.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe newspapers are commercial entities, but they want free advertising. If you want advertising, pay for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fin24<\/a><\/p>\n Faith Muthambi distances herself from SABC<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on the SABC<\/h3>\n