Special Investigating Unit (SIU) issues a summons against SABC's former controversial COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, liable to pay back a staggering R21 million to the public broadcaster.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has issued a summons against the former controversial and famously matricless SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng for more than R21 million that he owes the public broadcaster and has to pay back, says the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party's member of parliament, Phumzile Van Damme.

The R21 million includes the staggering R11.4 million bonus - called a "success fee" - the SABC paid Hlaudi Motsoeneng and is MultiChoice money that was paid to him through the SABC for the controversial SABC and DStv channels deal to provide SABC Encore and SABC News to MultiChoice's satellite pay-TV platform.

The R21 million also includes another R10.5 million payable to the SABC related to irregular SABC appointments, as well as the firing of staff.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng caused horrific damage at the SABC on all levels during his executive tenure, plunging the SABC into a financial crisis as credibility, staff morale, governance, pay control, commissioning and management on every level at the SABC over the past 3 years took a massive blow.

"It is to be welcomed that action against Hlaudi Motsoeneng continues," says Phumzile Van Damme.

"It cannot be that individuals like Hlaudi Motsoeneng loot public institutions, resign or are dismissed and there is no further action. All stolen money must be returned to the public purse. We therefore welcome the SIU’s action in this regard."

Phumzile Van Damme says that the SIU is investigating 8 contracts that were identified as "dodgy" during the SABC ad-hoc inquiry, including the "questionable R460 million contract with MultiChoice".

"Hlaudi Motsoeneng is however not the only person implicated in the SABC ad hoc inquiry report. Compromised individuals such as James Aguma [former SABC acting CEO] and especially former minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, must also be prosecuted for any wrongdoing".

The SIU will hand over the interim presidential report on its investigations into these dodgy SABC and MultiChoice contracts to the Office of the President on 31 May.

BREAKING. Warrant of arrest issued for one former SABC employee as Special Investigative Unit (SIU) continues to uncover SABC fraud.

The Special Investigative Unit (SIU) has uncovered rampant fraud at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) amounting to more than R200 million and a warrant of arrest has been issued for one fo the SABC's former employees - and more names are expected to be added as the SIU's investigations continue.

Two years ago the Auditor General (AG) released a damning report about the financial affairs of the SABC.

''So far we're working with the SABC; we've laid 8 charges with the Hawks already. In one of those cases an arrest warrant has been issued. With several others we expect some action soon,'' says Willie Hofmeyr, SIU. ''The total value of the contracts involved in those cases are well over R200 million.''

BREAKING. The Special Investigating Unit's (SIU) major investigation of the SABC has begun; department of justice now involved too.

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The major investigation of South Africa's Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into corruption, fraud and corporate governance issues that led to the SABC's burdening debt of R800 million has begun and a request has already been sent to the department of justice for president Jacob Zuma to issue a proclamation that would make criminal charges against former and current SABC personnel possible.

The full scope of what is currently going on at the SABC will come out next week on Tuesday when the SABC board is set to open a further can of worms regarding the internal management gridlock as well as stand-off between the SABC board chairperson dr Ben Ngubane and group CEO Solly Mokoetle on the one side, and the SABC board on the other. SABC board members - who have all been summoned to parliament - will testify before the portfolio committee on communications about the inner wranglings of the SABC in what is fast shaping up to be a must-see dramatic disclosure of note after months of renewed strife and infighting behind the scenes at the beleaguered public broadcaster. The matter of the SIU's SABC investigation - that was requested by the current SABC board - will definitely be discussed in greater detail.

The director from the president's office would be able to give the SIU the power to subpoena witnesses and will be able to produce a court ready docket for the police to act on - which means that criminal charges could follow soon for former and current SABC employees involved in alleged corruption and fraud at the public broadcaster.