Chief executive officer of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Peter Matlare, said on Sunday the SABC was dismayed at media coverage of allegations of wrongdoing in the commissioning of work to independent producers by the SABC.
Sixty percent of work awarded by the corporation to independent producers was placed with black economic empowerment companies.
Matlare said the SABC itself had called in the Scorpions and that, contrary to claims in some weekend media reports, the unit did not raid the SABC offices nor did they seize anything.
He said because of the current investigations he was unable to respond to media speculation about allegations against senior executives, senior managers or other SABC staff, but admitted there had been a particular focus on fraud and corruption.
In June 2002, the corporation launched an internal anti-fraud campaign that led to a number of allegations of wrongdoing and the Scorpions were called in by the SABC when it became clear that parties outside the corporation, over whom the SABC had no jurisdiction, were involved.
Matlare said the SABC had reviewed its commissioning procedures to ensure an effective functioning relationship with the industry and had initiated a consultative process with a number of stakeholders, including independent producers, on the question of commissioning procedures. – Sapa