‘Sober, sane' SABC rejects 'bizarre budget' report

The statement claims that the authors “have based their story on selective reporting. They have chosen a scenario that best suits their unknown interests; they have dismally failed to highlight all the facts. It is shocking that out of many scenarios on the table they have decided to choose the worst scenario, which is, if the SABC does not receive any funding it may experience a R4,2bn shortfall in 2014”.

The statement then says that in another scenario, which the SABC claims the authors “have carefully omitted, the SABC is projecting a R2.8 positive cash flow in the same period that they are reporting in their article, this if the SABC receives funding for major projects like DTT”. The SABC says it is yet to present its strategy to parliament that it will embark upon to turn around its current financial situation.

The SABC has condemned the article, and suggests in the statement that it is “rather appalling and inexcusable that the two journalists have omitted these facts in their bid for a sensational story”.

The SABC says that it did earlier this year project that it is about R800m in debt, but it notes “with interest” how some media reports have indicated that the figure has risen to the region of R1,5bn and is climbing.

“These false reports have emerged as a result of lack of understanding and sensational reporting by journalists like Ms Newmarch and Ms Ensor,” says the SABC, continuing...

“It must be made very clear that in terms of the PFMA, while outside auditors are still auditing our books, we are not allowed to discuss this issue in the public domain”.

Sober and sane

The broadcaster says in its statement that “it is not only wrong but troubling to say that the SABC does not have a performance management system in place”. It also defends the payment of bonuses last year, claiming that “any report suggesting that paying managers bonuses last year was a wasteful exercise is wrong. The SABC would like to reiterate that bonuses were paid in the 2007/8 in which financial year the SABC made profit".

The SABC has also rejected what it refers to as “insinuations” that it approached the Labour Court to interdict the Communication Worker's Union and Media Worker's Association from striking. “Despite, efforts by the SABC Spokesman to explain this to the authors of the article yesterday, they decided to ignore the SABC's explanation that SABC was asking the court for a review”.

The broadcaster says that it is "imperative to note" that it is a “sober and sane organization”, and therefore acknowledges the vital role the organised labour play in the corporation.

“We urge Ms Newmarch and Ms Ensor in future hold off on writing stories based on allegations for the sake of sensationalism and to ensure that they get all their facts correct”, the statement concludes.

For more:

• IOL: Interim board sought to save ailing SABC… And this time the idea is to get people who have the necessary skills and experience.
  
• IOL: SABC court application delayed… The SABC court action, intended to be made on Friday, to prevent a strike planned by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and the Media Workers Association of SA (Mwasa), had to be postponed as the judge was ill.