South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board member Noluthando Gosa has resigned amid allegations of corporate mismanagement and corruption within the board, the Sunday Times reports.
Gosa had alleged that irregular payments were made to board members and that R9,5-million was spent on performance management before being approved by the board.
The newspaper further reported that she had alleged that there was a lack of follow-up on three damning ”forensic” reports on the commissioning of the current affairs programme Roundtable, as well as provision of SABC content and financial information to a competing company.
She had also alleged that board members tendered for SABC work. They included a member who owned a production company and another whose technology company won a multimillion-rand tender, the Sunday Times reported.
Gosa said she had asked Auditor General Shauket Fakie to investigate the allegations.
SABC chairperson Eddie Funde confirmed Gosa’s resignation but said the board had not yet had the opportunity to discuss the matter with her.
”We find it disturbing that Ms Gosa’s departure is accompanied by a range of unsubstantiated and incorrect allegations against the board, which question our collective and individual integrity.”
Gosa was herself under investigation for possible violations of corporate governance, the report read.
”The matter stems from the SABC’s failure to show Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka being booed at a Women’s Day rally in KwaZulu-Natal,” the Sunday Times reported.
”An initial report cleared the SABC of wrongdoing but fingered former spokesman Paul Setsetse for not carrying out the instructions.
”A second probe, which is under way, was instituted by SABC chief executive officer Dali Mpofu to determine whether Gosa had instructed Setsetse to issue a statement that was found to be false.
”If Gosa had done so, it would have been contrary to SABC procedure and corporate governance rules that forbid board members’ involvement in operational issues.”
The Sunday Times further reported that Gosa’s spokesperson, Soya Magida, said she was on holiday overseas, but upon her return, would continue working as CEO of Akhona Properties.
The company recently won a major contract jointly to manage Southgate Mall in Johannesburg, the report added. — Sapa