Former SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng has tried to rubbish claims that the public broadcaster lost millions in revenue due to increased local content.
Motsoeneng implemented the 90% local content policy last year, a decision largely blamed as the main factor contributing to the SABC's dire financial situation.
"That's misleading and that's propaganda aimed at stopping the empowerment of black people,'' he said in an interview with Sowetan.
"Where's [the] evidence? . when we took the decision to get rid of international content it was because of revenue - because all this international content wasn't attracting audience."
This comes as the SABC interim board announced in parliament last week that it is gunning for both Motsoeneng and former CEO James Aguma's pensions to recover undue benefits the two allegedly enjoyed while at the public broadcaster.
The board has since scrapped the 90-10 policy.
Motsoeneng, however, said that campaigns against the SABC gained momentum last year and affected revenue generation.
"People who caused havoc, politicians included, called on South Africans not to pay TV licences; there was that big lobbying, with some saying advertisers should stop advertising on SABC," he said.
The firebrand boss claimed that when he left, due to disciplinary hearings, the SABC was in a healthy financial position, sitting with "R800-million in the bank".
"I was not there and there was chaos in the SABC. I'm not saying I'm the alpha and omega of the SABC but I knew how to lead.
"I know who's supposed to do what to bring in revenue at the SABC and when I talk everybody listened - even the board - because they knew I know my story," he said.
Motsoeneng's unfair dismissal case against the SABC is headed for arbitration after both parties failed to reach an agreement at the CCMA last week. Motsoeneng said he was ready to fight till the end.
"My fight is still on. I'm not the kind of person who runs away. I fight until the end, and this is just the beginning," he said.
The SABC declined to comment. "We are unable to comment on your enquiry at this stage,'' spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said.
SABC 'did not lose money on my watch' - Hlaudi Motsoeneng
Former SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng has tried to rubbish claims that the public broadcaster lost millions in revenue due to increased local content.
Motsoeneng implemented the 90% local content policy last year, a decision largely blamed as the main factor contributing to the SABC's dire financial situation.
"That's misleading and that's propaganda aimed at stopping the empowerment of black people,'' he said in an interview with Sowetan.
"Where's [the] evidence? . when we took the decision to get rid of international content it was because of revenue - because all this international content wasn't attracting audience."
This comes as the SABC interim board announced in parliament last week that it is gunning for both Motsoeneng and former CEO James Aguma's pensions to recover undue benefits the two allegedly enjoyed while at the public broadcaster.
The board has since scrapped the 90-10 policy.
Motsoeneng, however, said that campaigns against the SABC gained momentum last year and affected revenue generation.
"People who caused havoc, politicians included, called on South Africans not to pay TV licences; there was that big lobbying, with some saying advertisers should stop advertising on SABC," he said.
The firebrand boss claimed that when he left, due to disciplinary hearings, the SABC was in a healthy financial position, sitting with "R800-million in the bank".
"I was not there and there was chaos in the SABC. I'm not saying I'm the alpha and omega of the SABC but I knew how to lead.
"I know who's supposed to do what to bring in revenue at the SABC and when I talk everybody listened - even the board - because they knew I know my story," he said.
Motsoeneng's unfair dismissal case against the SABC is headed for arbitration after both parties failed to reach an agreement at the CCMA last week. Motsoeneng said he was ready to fight till the end.
"My fight is still on. I'm not the kind of person who runs away. I fight until the end, and this is just the beginning," he said.
The SABC declined to comment. "We are unable to comment on your enquiry at this stage,'' spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said.
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