Fury over huge bonus paid to SABC CEO

THE Broadcasting, Electronic, Media and Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) says the SABC is not in the financial quagmire it claims to be in and which had prevented it from meeting its contractual commitments.

This comes after it was revealed that the broadcaster’s acting group chief executive officer, Nomsa Philiso, received a R877 000 bonus.

Bemawu spokesperson Hannes du Buisson said the amount awarded to the broadcaster’s CEO was shocking and revealed a different state of its financials.

“We find it shocking that that kind of amount is paid out, especially at this point. It shows that the SABC is in a much better financial position than everyone has been told,” said Du Buisson.

He said the bonus made them question the SABC’s real financial status.

The broadcaster also had to scramble to explain the bonus to Parliament.

DA spokesperson Phumzile van Damme asked the broadcaster how it was able to afford a bonus or commission of almost R1 million while the company was making huge losses.

The SABC’s latest annual report revealed that Philiso earned a total of R3.37m in the year ended March 2016, which included bonuses and commissions.