Comments on: SABC: Time to start becoming accountable

By: Poolboy

Poolboy — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:06:24 +0000

Interestingly Molefe Mokgatle continues to feed from the BEE trough. He is a Non Executive Director at Search Partners International(headhunter) and Commercial Executive at AfriSam where he was appointed in November 2008. He is also CEO of Afrilink Pty Ltd – a BEE “investment company” No doubt he has connections. AfriSam is now a black controlled cement company when Swiss cement maker Holcim divested from South Africa in 2007. AfriSam recently recieved a R6bil. cash injection from the Public Investment Corporation who used the poor state employees’ retirement money to prop up this transaction. Rumours abound that the new shareholders have awarded themselves massive directors fees and have started the usual rackets such as “clothing allowance” claims or having to attend meetings! In the meantime Holcim is still owed the company has to scrounge and scramble to make interest payments every quarter to the bankers – and Holcim is still owed CHF270 mil! One of the new shareholders, a lady, even claimed for her expensive new undewear when attending a meeting in London last year with management to convince bankers to fund their expensive transaction. Is it just me or is the corruption and the typical cash stripping exercise at every possible opportunity now just everywhere wnen BEE schemes are implemented? Whatever happened to corporate governance? Have these people no shame? What about the 1500 employees of AfriSam who will lose their jobs once these bozos stuff it up? Oh yes, none of the shareholders or Mokgatle know anything about cement.

By: Keith Knowlton

Keith Knowlton — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:02:39 +0000

I’ve just noticed Matilda Gaboo rising like a phoenix from the ashes she left at the SABC. Under the wing of Mathews Phosa (who on 12 June 2009 was appointed nonexec chairperson of the board for Alt-X listed Alliance Mining Corporation Limited), Gaboo has been appointed executive director to the board. Does anyone know what her background is? Her talents are obvious. As far as stock buying tips go, I wouldn’t recommend this one.

By: Thandeka Mapi

Thandeka Mapi — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:28:22 +0000

Great one!!

Whenever politicians get involved, things fall apart. Corruption everywhere, because all the companies in SA are in alliance with politics. People have to bribe, buy and commit fraud all the time. That is just awesome, shows how poor a nation we will be, and that is going to happen sooner that we thought.

In the meantime people are paying TV licences, how sweet!

Thank you for an eye-opening article.

By: Phillipa Lipinsky

Phillipa Lipinsky — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:07:11 +0000

The behavior of Gaboo is alarming! Did she ever do business with women? I wonder. It’s worrying that Phosa is involved. There should be a law that says that politicians should not involve themselves in business. Conflict of interest. And yet people on the ground are starving to death and being treated as voting fodder. I hate the condescending tone that some politicians use to speak about the poor. AND NOW THIS. The whole affair is despicable!

By: anton kleinschmidt

anton kleinschmidt — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:45:42 +0000

There is only one way to sort out the problems at the SABC. Government must accept the fact that the broadcaster is incapable of being revived and close it down.

If this were a private business it would have been liquidated years ago.

By: Akanyang Merementsi

Akanyang Merementsi — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:21:00 +0000

Rightly put by Gerry:

“Ah, you gotta love the SABC – if they cannot provide entertainment on their channels, at least they provide entertainment by reading about them in the papers!”

By: Old, female, paleface

Old, female, paleface — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:12:28 +0000

Siphiwo Siphiwo call in your fellow ANC hackers to join you urgently.

I am verbose but this time you said it all, Traps.
AT least the news is not marching troops, waving index fingers, terrifying us and planting of trees.
Not to mention lectures on dangers of Rooi Gevaar etc.
Or is that in the pipeline?

My comment – as a pensioner with no DSTV my TV is an ornament wasting space for oxygen.
Except for eTV news at 7 pm.
With no entertainment – I spend my time annoying other bloggers and readers, free of charge or detention.

I promise to not steal a chocolate bar and be sent to prison to die at hands of our
‘protective obese police.’ (good -Rhymes with even meter.)

By: Alan

Alan — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:52:55 +0000

When the messenger puts in a request for a new bicycle, everyone in the department has an opinion or contribution to the debate. When the department heads propose spending half a billion on un-needed junk, nobody has anything to say. This truly is where the financial controller is supposed to come in. He should have experience with large purchases and be aware of the pitfalls that lie within. Unless he has covered himself with an audit trail as Traps suggests, he should be charged with fraud and embezelment.

By: Wout

Wout — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:33:06 +0000

@Siphiwox2: There seems to be a lot you don’t understand…
“please learn to” respond to blogs by actually commenting on the issues raised.

Mike, good one!

By: Wonkie

Wonkie — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:34:44 +0000

Great article Traps! We’re seriously considering quitting the cartoon business to make an animated documentary about public transport in South Africa. We’re pitching the production at about R4,000,000 for the SABC less a 20% discount because nobody will be able to watch because it will never be screened. Not sure of the title yet but we’re thinking of calling the doccie ‘Gravy Train’.