Executive. He later learned that the contract which was eventually signed excluded any reference to the revenue sharing arrangement. 17.1.5 In his evidence Dr Ngubane had alluded to the fact that Mr Molefe’s visit to India while he was the acting GCEO had been linked to the controversial Gupta family. Mr Molefe indicates however that the visits he had undertaken were motivated for and approved, and were aimed at exploring possible content and skills partnerships with other national broadcasters, and part of benchmarking exercises in anticipation of the launch of a free-to-air 24-hour news service. The trip to India had been part of Board-approved international strategy to pursue partnerships with, amongst others the BBC in the United Kingdom, CCTV in China and Prasar Bharati in India. 17.1.6 In his evidence Dr Ngubane had denied the claim that he had attempted to force Mr Molefe to approve a R 500 000 salary increase for Mr Motsoeneng. In his response Mr Molefe insisted that the SABC’s record would reflect that Mr Motsoeneng’s salary had been increased by that amount, and later more. 17.2 Mr S Masinga 17.2.1 In relation to the amendment of the MOI, Mr Masinga provided that contradicted the Minister’s evidence as reflected in paragraph 8.1.2 in the Interim Report. Board minutes of a meeting that took place on 29 January 2015 indicated that Board members had raised concerns that the Minister had changed and registered the MOI without having consulted the Board. Members had raised concerns that the amendments may have resulted in the Board being stripped of its powers, but the proposal that an opinion on the legality of the amendment be sought was not pursued as it may have had implications for the relationship between the Shareholder Representative and the Board. Instead, it was agreed that the Minister would be invited to clarify the issue in a Board meeting. 17.2.2 Mr Masinga provided correspondence and a proposed agreement between the SABC and an entity called Applewood Trading 2006 (Pty) Ltd supported the evidence referred to in paragraph 7.2.1 of the Interim Report. The agreement was for the distribution of a 24-hour, seven-day commercial news channel for
Executive. He later learned that the contract which was eventually signed excluded any reference to the revenue sharing arrangement. 17.1.5 In his evidence Dr Ngubane had alluded to the fact that Mr Molefe’s visit to India while he was the acting GCEO had been linked to the controversial Gupta family. Mr Molefe indicates however that the visits he had undertaken were motivated for and approved, and were aimed at exploring possible content and skills partnerships with other national broadcasters, and part of benchmarking exercises in anticipation of the launch of a free-to-air 24-hour news service. The trip to India had been part of Board-approved international strategy to pursue partnerships with, amongst others the BBC in the United Kingdom, CCTV in China and Prasar Bharati in India. 17.1.6 In his evidence Dr Ngubane had denied the claim that he had attempted to force Mr Molefe to approve a R 500 000 salary increase for Mr Motsoeneng. In his response Mr Molefe insisted that the SABC’s record would reflect that Mr Motsoeneng’s salary had been increased by that amount, and later more. 17.2 Mr S Masinga 17.2.1 In relation to the amendment of the MOI, Mr Masinga provided that contradicted the Minister’s evidence as reflected in paragraph 8.1.2 in the Interim Report. Board minutes of a meeting that took place on 29 January 2015 indicated that Board members had raised concerns that the Minister had changed and registered the MOI without having consulted the Board. Members had raised concerns that the amendments may have resulted in the Board being stripped of its powers, but the proposal that an opinion on the legality of the amendment be sought was not pursued as it may have had implications for the relationship between the Shareholder Representative and the Board. Instead, it was agreed that the Minister would be invited to clarify the issue in a Board meeting. 17.2.2 Mr Masinga provided correspondence and a proposed agreement between the SABC and an entity called Applewood Trading 2006 (Pty) Ltd supported the evidence referred to in paragraph 7.2.1 of the Interim Report. The agreement was for the distribution of a 24-hour, seven-day commercial news channel for
170227committeereport.docx