However, the broadcaster’s spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, said that this was nothing new and in line with President Jacob Zuma’s decision to implement cost-cutting measures at state institutions, including travelling costs.
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A letter, which News24 has in its possession, stated that staff must motivate why the trips must be undertaken, and submit a formal report to the minister within seven days of their return.
The DA’s spokeswoman Phumzile van Damme, who has been pushing for an inquiry into the SABC in terms of section 227 of the National Assembly rules, said Frolick should give the go-ahead urgently to stem the “institutional rot” at the broadcaster.
The requests must be submitted through the CFO’s office, the letter states.
All requests for worldwide travel had to include a motivation and benefits to be accrued to the government and the country, as well as the financial implications and the list of officials in the proposed delegation, including the roles of each official.
“The ministry of communications has written to all entities that fall within the communications portfolio requesting them to adhere to the cost containment measures adopted by government relating to overseas trips”, Molakeng said.
The letter was sent to Brand SA, the Independent Communications Authority of SA, the Media Development and Diversity Agency, the Film and Publications Board and the SABC.
The Democratic Alliance in Parliament has released a statement sating members of the Portfolio Committee on Communications, has agreed with the DA that there should be an inquiry into the “full-scale rot at the SABC as necessary and urgent”.
The DA says it remains committed to restoring independence and freedom of speech at the SABC, and ensuring that South Africans have access to the information and news they are constitutionally entitled to.
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But Maxegwana says he’ll be approaching Cedric Frolick, who oversees committee programmes, to ask for more time for the committee to interrogate events at the SABC.
