by Thinus Ferreira
The beleaguered South African public broadcaster has spent R70 million at the 2022 FIFA World Cup during November 2022 in Qatar with the new SABC board who wants to know how it happened and what the money was used for.
City Press newspaper reported that the new SABC board is demanding answers and a thorough explanation about the R70 million that was spent by the SABC at the soccer world cup which was held in Qatar.
At the end of last year the SABC had no board. Yet the SABC CEO at the time, Madoda Mxakwe, decided to fly to Qatar to attend the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
While the SABC was rudderless without any oversight and Madoda Mxakwe was designated to act on behalf of the board, he wasn't in South Africa since he saw it fit to leave the country to go watch football in Watar.
TVwithThinus asked the SABC at the time why Madoda Mxakwe was in Qatar.
The SABC in response to the media query said: "The SABC can confirm that SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe is in Qatar and Yolande van Biljon, SABC CFO,
is currently acting as CEO".
"The SABC can further confirm that it did not incur
any costs for this all-expense paid trip. The CEO is a key stakeholder of
other organisations which have the SABC's interest at heart and as such he was
invited to Qatar as a stakeholder on a week-long trip."
"He will use this
opportunity to meet with various rights holders when it comes to football as
well as explore further revenue generating possibilities with SABC clients
currently in Qatar."
"In
addition, as an official broadcaster of the FIFA World Cup, it is important
that the SABC, like all other international broadcasters of the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Qatar, be in a position to discuss possible future football
deals and partnerships with FIFA and different stakeholders in view of the rising
broadcast rights costs. The SABC has no other employee in Qatar."
The SABC got a R3.2 billion bailout from South Africa's government in 2020. The SABC is expected to declare yet another loss for the 2022/2023 financial year of over R1 billion.
