Staff meetings at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) are still being opened with “Hlaudi Motsoeneng reya o leboha” (“Hlaudi Motsoeneng we thank you”)‚ the Democratic Alliance (DA) averred on Thursday.
The party claimed the SABC COO’s “praise-singers” did so “as recently as last month”‚ despite Communications Minister Faith Muthambi’s claims “that the choir no longer sings these songs”.
The DA’s Phumzile van Damme made these claims after Muthambi’s answers to questions in Parliament showed that the SABC “has spent R6.7-million on its own in-house choir over the last two years‚ and will spend a further R3.7-million next year”.
The DA also claimed that local artists who praised “Motsoeneng for his 90% local content decision” are being favoured as “SABC stations have been instructed to play on high rotation a song by Mzwakhe Mbuli and other local artists” who lauded him.
“The DA will submit parliamentary questions to determine the costs associated with commissioning this song‚” Van Damme said.
The party would also “calls for the disbandment of the choir‚ in order to cut unnecessary costs at the SABC”.
“It makes absolutely no sense for the SABC to have an in-house choir‚ particularly if it exists to inflate Mr Motsoeneng’s ego. There are plenty of talented choirs in South Africa that can be commissioned by the SABC should the need arise.”
“As the public broadcaster‚ the SABC exists to serve the interests of all South Africans‚ and not as Mr Motsoeneng’s personal piggybank and fiefdom.
“The DA will continue to exercise vigorous oversight over the SABC’s spending to ensure that every cent it spends‚ is spent to the benefit of South Africa.” – Tiso Black Star Group Digital
DA calls for disbandment of in-house choir still singing Hlaudi’s praises
The party claimed the SABC COO’s “praise-singers” did so “as recently as last month”‚ despite Communications Minister Faith Muthambi’s claims “that the choir no longer sings these songs”.
The DA’s Phumzile van Damme made these claims after Muthambi’s answers to questions in Parliament showed that the SABC “has spent R6.7-million on its own in-house choir over the last two years‚ and will spend a further R3.7-million next year”.
The DA also claimed that local artists who praised “Motsoeneng for his 90% local content decision” are being favoured as “SABC stations have been instructed to play on high rotation a song by Mzwakhe Mbuli and other local artists” who lauded him.
“The DA will submit parliamentary questions to determine the costs associated with commissioning this song‚” Van Damme said.
The party would also “calls for the disbandment of the choir‚ in order to cut unnecessary costs at the SABC”.
“It makes absolutely no sense for the SABC to have an in-house choir‚ particularly if it exists to inflate Mr Motsoeneng’s ego. There are plenty of talented choirs in South Africa that can be commissioned by the SABC should the need arise.”
“As the public broadcaster‚ the SABC exists to serve the interests of all South Africans‚ and not as Mr Motsoeneng’s personal piggybank and fiefdom.
“The DA will continue to exercise vigorous oversight over the SABC’s spending to ensure that every cent it spends‚ is spent to the benefit of South Africa.” – Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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