MultiChoice and SABC in cahoots over control mechanism

  • 📰 mailandguardian
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 109 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 47%
  • Publisher: 92%

South Africa Headlines News

South Africa Latest News,South Africa Headlines

The Zondo commission has heard how the deal is alleged to have been concluded behind the back of the SABC’s then chief executive officer Lulama Mokhobo and how proper process was not followed, making the deal allegedly “unlawful”.

The controversial R553 million deal between MultiChoice and the South African Broadcasting Corporation , signed on July 3 2013 by SABC acting chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, is under scrutiny at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture.

For those who cannot afford a new digital television set, their analogue television can be converted to digital via an antenna and set-top box. The most impoverished five million households in the country will qualify for free set-top boxes; it was the fight over the control mechanism in these boxes that a former department of communications technical adviser says caused the project to remain incomplete in 2019.

He testified that the department of communications was shocked when the SABC did an about- turn and said it was not in favour of the control mechanism. Kruger said this change happened very suddenly.The deal between the SABC and MultiChoice has a long history. When negotiations first began, Pule was minister of communication, Mokhobo was the chief executive of the SABC and Ben Ngubane was the SABC chair.

Ngubane testified before the commission that the need for an SABC 24-hour news channel came from the desire to compete against eTV’s eNCA, hosted on the DStv platform.Ngubane testified that Motsoeneng was sent to India and London to see if he could find a partner for the SABC.

SABC board minutes from February 24 2012 show that it was at this meeting that Mokhobo announced that a contract between the SABC and MultiChoice had been executed, despite the fact that the board had not had sight of the contract.Ngubane testified that negotiations with MultiChoice progressed to the point where a contract was signed. But a problem emerged “when it came to how MultiChoice will pay for the SABC on their DStv bouquet,” testified Ngubane. “That broke the discussion.

“I decided to approach MultiChoice after we had failed and [said] to them, ‘Look, we still need a 24-hour news channel,’” he said. Mokhobo testified that it was Tshabalala who instructed Motsoeneng and the SABC acting chief financial officer Christian Olivier to go ahead and sign the contract with MultiChoice. She had to take emergency leave for just short of a week to care for her granddaughter who was gravely ill during that week. “While I was gone, they then decided to meet with MultiChoice and quickly conclude the contract,” she said.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.

Hlaudi throw SABC into the big mass, he should face the law

If found guilty then we must lock them up including all the other people .

But what is the Hawks and NPA doing about it?

The core of state capture

Many municipalities have boards about projects that remain unfinished, how does the ZondoCommission follow up on these, which needs no scientific proof. Auditor_GeneralSA reports, MPAC reports are simple pointers

Finally ... God is great !

Is it this clown again that masterminded this ?

MULTICHOICE WAS DEALING EXCESSIVLEY WITH SABC DURING THE STATE CAPTURE PERIOD & ALSO KEPT THE GUPTAS ON AIR, MULTICHOICE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY THE REGULATOR AS WELL FOR THEIR HIGH COSTS

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 2. in ZA

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

CARTOON: Too late for SABCTuesday, October 8 2019
Source: BDliveSA - 🏆 12. / 63 Read more »

Cash-strapped SABC says there's significant viewership growth on platforms | IOL NewsThe SABC said it has managed to increase viewership and market share of its SABC News Channel from 34% in September 2018 to 38% during September 2019 on the DSTV platform. ...& I heard that they are going to bring back that blasphemous program of the bold and beautiful....shame on you Sabc...shame on you...☹️ Bullsh1t !! Wit the way they are reporting , those figures are going to drop
Source: IOL - 🏆 46. / 51 Read more »

I'm going nowhere: Maimane - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.MOST READ | I'm going nowhere: Maimane via SABCNewsOnline I am just going to take a short left there by Harvard 😂😂😂😂 No please, if your party follows a democratic process and brings a motion of no confidence , just leave. You taught us during Zuma's era that there is a best way to remove am elected leader. Now is your turn to face the music in your party Last kick of the Harvard horse...
Source: SABC News Online - 🏆 32. / 51 Read more »

UN faces liquidity crisis - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.The United Nations is facing a liquidity crisis that is worse than any that it has ever confronted in at least a decade. No such. They think the public haven't heard of fractional reserve banking (aka. banks counterfeiting money away from the public eye; essentially making money out of nothing). UN must go print the money they need and stop telling the world fairytales.
Source: SABC News Online - 🏆 32. / 51 Read more »

North Korea doubts US will have alternative plans inside two weeks - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.North Korea says there was no way the United States would bring alternative plans for their stalled nuclear talks to a meeting proposed by Stockholm in two weeks after weekend negotiations in Sweden broke down.
Source: SABC News Online - 🏆 32. / 51 Read more »

Gauteng Education to help learners with behavioural problems - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.The Gauteng Department of Education says it has identified 21 problematic schools in the province with high rates of bullying. We truly need to educate our kids from home.most if us as parents we turn blind eye ....You knw your child How exactly ? Confiscate all scissors and stationery that can possibly be used as weapons ? ..Corporal punishment worked a charm years ago . Don't recall any murders in schools ..odd fight yes but no attacking teachers , stabbings or shootings in schools .You reap what you sow. EducationGP identified 21 schools across the province as being 'problematic', with a high prevalence rate of Bullying Drug abuse Dug peddling Ill discipline.. Shocking that pupils have grown out of hand at such a young age... Lack of adult role players plays a key part here
Source: SABC News Online - 🏆 32. / 51 Read more »