THE SABC has finally confirmed that its Soccer World Cup head will face charges for paying a friend R26million for studio space.
Sowetan reported in May that Peter Kwele had been authorised to spend R1million on setting up the World Cup broadcasting headquarters at the Sandton Convention Centre.
But just one month before the tournament started it emerged that Kwele had sublet the space from Graham Cooke, the president of World Travel Awards. Cooke is a friend of Kwele and his wife, Lindiwe Mahlangu-Kwele, the chief executive of Joburg Tourism.
Instead of paying R1million, Kwele had promised Cooke's company R26million worth of advertising that will run on SABC over two years.
Kwele was suspended two weeks ago but the SABC had declined to divulge the reasons for that.
But yesterday in Parliament, acting SABC chief executive Robin Nicholson told Sowetan that Kwele was suspended for the "unbudgeted, unauthorised and irregular expenditure".
Nicholson said SABC staff who give away discounts on advertising have become such a problem that they will be probed by the special investigations unit.
Board member Cedric Gina said the unit had told the board that corruption was "so sophisticated at the SABC" that the unit wanted to investigate the broadcaster's finances dating back to 2005.
2010 broadcast boss in R26m rap
THE SABC has finally confirmed that its Soccer World Cup head will face charges for paying a friend R26million for studio space.
Sowetan reported in May that Peter Kwele had been authorised to spend R1million on setting up the World Cup broadcasting headquarters at the Sandton Convention Centre.
But just one month before the tournament started it emerged that Kwele had sublet the space from Graham Cooke, the president of World Travel Awards. Cooke is a friend of Kwele and his wife, Lindiwe Mahlangu-Kwele, the chief executive of Joburg Tourism.
Instead of paying R1million, Kwele had promised Cooke's company R26million worth of advertising that will run on SABC over two years.
Kwele was suspended two weeks ago but the SABC had declined to divulge the reasons for that.
But yesterday in Parliament, acting SABC chief executive Robin Nicholson told Sowetan that Kwele was suspended for the "unbudgeted, unauthorised and irregular expenditure".
Nicholson said SABC staff who give away discounts on advertising have become such a problem that they will be probed by the special investigations unit.
Board member Cedric Gina said the unit had told the board that corruption was "so sophisticated at the SABC" that the unit wanted to investigate the broadcaster's finances dating back to 2005.
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