The DA said the information was garnered from a parliamentary question the party had asked.

“According to the reply, R3,745 million and R3,780 million have been budgeted for the SABC choir for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 financial years respectively. In 2014/15, R3 million was spent,” said DA member of parliament, Phumzile Van Damme, in a statement.

“The DA last year revealed that the SABC choir sings songs in praise of SABC COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, in staff meetings with the lyrics “Hlaudi Motsoeneng, reya o leboha” (Hlaudi Motsoeneng, we thank you).”

Van Damme said in her reply while Communications Minister, Faith Muthambi, “claims the choir no longer sings these songs, the DA has it on good authority that the choir continues to do so, and did so as recently as last month”.

The DA called for the disbandment of the choir as a means of cutting unnecessary costs at the SABC.

“It makes absolutely no sense for the SABC to have an in-house choir, particularly if it exists to inflate Mr Motsoeneng’s ego. There are plenty of talented choirs in South Africa that can be commissioned by the SABC, should the need arise,” said Van Damme.

“The choir is not the only body at the SABC forced to sing Mr Motseoeneng’s praises, SABC stations have been instructed to play on high rotation a song by Mzwakhe Mbuli and other local artists praising Motsoeneng for his 90% local content decision. The DA will submit parliamentary questions to determine the costs associated with commissioning this song.”

As the public broadcaster, the SABC exists to serve the interests of all South Africans, and should not be Motsoeneng’s personal “piggybank and fiefdom”, said Van Damme.

“The DA will continue to exercise vigorous oversight over the SABC’s spending to ensure that every cent it spends, is spent to the benefit of South Africa.”

ANA

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