LULAMA Mokhobo, chief executive of the SABC, has pleaded ignorance about the "business relationship" between the public broadcaster and The New Age newspaper.
Quoting from a response by Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba to a parliamentary question, City Press reported that state-owned enterprises have pumped millions into a breakfast shows in which The New Age was the sole financial beneficiary.
Transnet have paid R17.5-million for 18 breakfasts so far and Eskom has paid R7.2-million.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Mokhobo said she was not informed on the matter and that the best person to comment was SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago.
The SABC does not receive financial benefit from the breakfast shows flighted on one its its channels.
This despite The New Age making millions in sponsorship and in proceeds derived from table bookings by guests wanting to be addressed by government ministers and premiers.
The lucrative partnership between the SABC and The New Age is seen as questionable because the newspaper's circulation figures remain a mystery in the media and advertising industry. The paper is not registered with the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) which records liable newspaper sales.
The breakfast shows are mostly attended by business people to hear about government policies and they buy tables to attend
"We only keep the content from the broadcasts. We do not make money and everything is run by The New Age," Kganyago said yesterday.
Kganyago was at pains to explain why the public broadcaster used The New Age to access the ministers when it can directly request interviews from them.
"We are in partnership with the newspaper like any other partnership we have entered into with other companies. It does not mean the SABC do not have access to ministers but The New Age came up with a concept and we liked it," he said.
Mayihlome Tshwete, spokesman for Gigaba, whose department oversees Eskom and Transnet, yesterday said the two companies do not contact the minister when they make marketing decisions.
The New Age is owned by the Gupta family who have a close relationship with President Jacob Zuma.
The New Age accused City Press of fearing a competitor in the industry.
SABC defends breakfast deal
LULAMA Mokhobo, chief executive of the SABC, has pleaded ignorance about the "business relationship" between the public broadcaster and The New Age newspaper.
Quoting from a response by Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba to a parliamentary question, City Press reported that state-owned enterprises have pumped millions into a breakfast shows in which The New Age was the sole financial beneficiary.
Transnet have paid R17.5-million for 18 breakfasts so far and Eskom has paid R7.2-million.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Mokhobo said she was not informed on the matter and that the best person to comment was SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago.
The SABC does not receive financial benefit from the breakfast shows flighted on one its its channels.
This despite The New Age making millions in sponsorship and in proceeds derived from table bookings by guests wanting to be addressed by government ministers and premiers.
The lucrative partnership between the SABC and The New Age is seen as questionable because the newspaper's circulation figures remain a mystery in the media and advertising industry. The paper is not registered with the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) which records liable newspaper sales.
The breakfast shows are mostly attended by business people to hear about government policies and they buy tables to attend
"We only keep the content from the broadcasts. We do not make money and everything is run by The New Age," Kganyago said yesterday.
Kganyago was at pains to explain why the public broadcaster used The New Age to access the ministers when it can directly request interviews from them.
"We are in partnership with the newspaper like any other partnership we have entered into with other companies. It does not mean the SABC do not have access to ministers but The New Age came up with a concept and we liked it," he said.
Mayihlome Tshwete, spokesman for Gigaba, whose department oversees Eskom and Transnet, yesterday said the two companies do not contact the minister when they make marketing decisions.
The New Age is owned by the Gupta family who have a close relationship with President Jacob Zuma.
The New Age accused City Press of fearing a competitor in the industry.
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