Pretoria - The SABC has denied reports that it forked out almost R20 million to acquire a fleet of Mercedes Benz for its employees.
Dispelling recent reports, General Manager for Compliance and Operations Sully Motsweni said the Mercedes Benz vehicles were supplied to the SABC after the company that supplied it with cars did not have the Corolla Sedans and bakkies that the public broadcaster usually uses.
She explained that the company in question - Debis - "extended" 22 Mercedes Benz from its own fleet to the SABC earlier this year, until such time it was able to replenish its stock.
When this happened, at the end of August the SABC received 86 vehicles from Debis, including crew buses, bakkies and sedans.
"The value of the vehicles (Mercedes Benz) was based on the original contract we had with Debis. It is not R19 million. The SABC did not go about and acquire Mercedes Benz to the value of R20 million," she clarified.
There was a public outcry when reports surfaced that the public broadcaster had spent R20 million on 86 luxury vehicles for its news team.
However, the SABC is "taking action" against one employee who apparently did not follow internal procedures with regards to the cars.
Acting Group CEO Hlaudi Motsoeneng acknowledged that proper procedures and processes were not followed with regards to the Mercedes Benz vehicles.
"We have taken action and within two weeks we will get the results," he said.
The person allegedly involved in wrongdoing has implicated others and investigations are on-going, Motsoeneng added.
