SABC corruption halts R77m building project
Corruption at the SABC has delayed the construction of new premises for the Mpumalanga offices and studios in Nelspruit. The architect and a number of SABC officials involved in the R77 million project are being investigated by the Special Investigating Unit.
This was revealed to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications during an oversight visit to Mpumalanga in March.
The lease on the current SABC premises in Nelspruit expires at the end of 2012. With construction stalled on the new building, the SABC in Nelspruit may soon be left homeless during a critical period for its operations. As the deadline for switchover to digital terrestrial television (DTT) looms, new equipment is already starting to crowd the currently occupied premises.
The curiosity of this project is exemplified by the R5,5 million air conditioning system that was bought for a building which does not exist. The air conditioning system is currently used at the existing leased premises.
I will pose a number of parliamentary questions to the Minister of Communications, Dina Pule, to shed light on this latest example of questionable management by our public broadcaster.
The Minister must explain how much of the R77 million initially approved for the project has been spent, what it was spent on and who received this money.
We need clarity on how the architect for the project was chosen, the details of the charges being investigated against the architect and SABC officials and whether payments have already been made to companies or individuals under investigation.
We will furthermore ask whether the R77 million, or what is left of it, is still available from the Treasury for the new premises.
The Minister should also explain what steps have been taken to accommodate the SABC operations in Nelspruit whilst these matters are resolved. Employees in the current offices have told representatives from the portfolio committee that the owner of the current premises plans to demolish the building as soon as the SABC vacates it. It will thus be critical to learn whether negotiations are underway with the owner to extend the lease, or whether alternative temporary accommodation is being sought.
As the project relating to the new premises seems to have been fraught with irregularity from the onset, I will also ask how the site (bought for R4,6 million in 2006) was chosen, from whom it was purchased, which government entity owns the land and whether it is suitable for the proposed new SABC building.
This issue illustrates the impact of corruption on the efficiency of state-run institutions. The guilty parties must be held to account and the Minister must explain how she will mitigate potential impacts.
Statement issued by Marian Shinn MP, DA Shadow Minister of Communications, April 4 2012
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