The SABC says it did not splurge R20 million on luxury vehicles, although South Africa's public broadcaster admitted today that proper procedures were not followed in vehicle acquisition and that one SABC employee has been charged whilst several others are being investigated.
At a press conference at the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters today, the broadcaster said proper procedure were not followed but that the SABC did not end up having to spend R20 million. The SABC has now taken action against a worker for not following the proper procedure in acquiring vehicles.
The SABC has a contract with Debis Fleet Management that states that once the cars have reaches 160 000 km they should be replaced. The SABC news fleet needed replacing, and Debis was only in a position to supply the luxury cars as a temporary arrangement at no extra cost to the SABC.
''Debis didn't have the suitable vehicles which the SABC normally uses which would be Corolla 1.6 sedans or double cab or single cab bakkies,'' said Sully Motsweni, SABC stakeholder relations manager. ''Debis gave Mercedes Benzes to the SABC which were insured by Debis from their own fleet until such time as they were replenish the stock.''
''We're still paying the rates as we are paying for sedans. We're not paying the rates of Mercedes Benz,'' said Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the acting group CEO of the SABC. ''We have taken action and within two weeks you will get results.'' The SABC says the luxury cars were returned in August.
