Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications said on Wednesday it had noted the “untimely resignation” of the chief financial officer of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), James Aguma.
Ina statement, the committee said it would await the reasons of Aguma’s resignation from the SABC Interim Board.
“The Committee would have loved for Mr Aguma to stay in order for the disciplinary process to continue so that he can have an opportunity to clear his name,” said committee chairperson Humphrey Maxewgana.
The DA meanwhile, said that while it welcomed Aguma’s resignation of the SABC’s suspended chief executive, James Aguma.
However, DA MP Mike Waters said that Aguma’s decision to resign instead of facing a disciplinary hearing does not mean he is going to be let off the hook for his part in the institutional breakdown at the SABC.
“Aguma faces serious accusations, including tender irregularities and overseeing massive fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and reports that his resignation will result in the SABC withdrawing charges are concerning. Equally so reports that he is set for a golden handshake.”
“Aguma’s convenient exit reiterates the urgent need for the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, to table the report into those who lied during Parliament’s SABC Inquiry. The report, compiled by Parliament’s Legal Services Unit, identifies “the persons who misled the inquiry or provided false information or false testimony with the aim of criminal charges being laid”, he said.
Waters said that the Speaker had steadfastly refused to table the report, which she received on 5 June 2017; instead, she has “[written] to individuals cited on the list, inviting them to make submissions by the end of July on the serious allegations they face”.
“Aguma is no doubt named in the report and now faces a fine and/or imprisonment for violating the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act,” he said.
