‘S’GCOKO’ VERBALLY ATTACKS TEAM PROBING ESWATINI TV

MBABANE – Tensions reached boiling point when ETVA CEO Bongani Sigcokosiyancinca Dlamini verbally attacked the seven-member team that was elected to probe State-owned media houses.

The team was tasked with probing a litany of allegations that had been made against the two  State broadcast media houses.

Both Eswatini Television Authority (ETVA) and Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS) were rocked by allegations of corruption, nepotism and maladministration, according to a motion that was moved by Motshane Inkhundla Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Magongo in October 28, 2019.
The motion requested that the House of Assembly elects a seven-member Select Committee to investigate serious allegations of corruption, nepotism and maladministration reported to be rampant at Eswatini TV and EBIS. 

Team

The seven-member Select Committee includes Ndzingeni MP Lutfo Dlamini, Gege MP Musa Kunene, Lobamba MP Allen Stewart, and Dvokodvweni MP Mduduzi Magagula.

The team was given 60 days, after passing of the motion, to table a report with its findings and recommendations.
Before ‘S’gcoko’s submissions, Gege MP Kunene, who is the Chairperson of the committee, submitted that they were sent by Parliament to investigate the allegations made against the television station.

He made it clear that yesterday, they had only gone to the TV station to tour the building to have a picture of which offices the different people who would be making submissions were working in.

It was after this submission that ‘S’gcoko’ was given a chance to make brief remarks.
That is when ‘S’gcoko’ launched his attack and said it seemed he was the one being probed. 
He said he was of the view that he was the one being probed as on a yearly basis, there were always investigations being done at the television station but there were never outcomes of these probes.

“Umangabe ungumuntfu, unengati, ugcina sewudziniwe,” said ‘S’gcoko’.
 That can be translated to mean that every living person ends up getting tired at some point.
He said he also had his own grievances that needed to be addressed but highlighted that he had a challenge of not having the terms of reference of the probe to find out what the key areas that would be touched on were, so that he could add to what troubled him.

‘S’gcoko’ was called to order after he made a statement to the effect that he was troubled by the fact that he was being investigated by people who needed to be investigated themselves. “Lokuhlupha mine chair kutsi ngiphenywa bantfu lekumele kutsi baphenywe nabo,” ‘S’gcoko’ said.
As soon as he had made this statement, he was swiftly stopped by MP Kunene who said: “Kahle CEO (stop CEO)”.

Interjected

Before he could talk any further, Ndzingeni MP Lutfo interjected and said he did not want to sit in a meeting where there would be contemptuous statements made about Parliament.
Lutfo said ‘S’gcoko’ needed to accept that they were sent by Parliament to do the job other than making the contemptuous statements. He clarified that they did not come to him but to the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT).

“Nanikukhuluma kabi nge Phalamende mine nitongikhandza nginimele langephandle because mine I know why I am here,” said the Ndzingeni MP.
This can be translated to mean; “If you speak ill of Parliament, you will find me waiting outside, I know why I came here.” ‘S’gcoko’ also quickly interjected and asked why he was not given a chance to make his submissions before he could be corrected where there were contemptuous statements.

He further stated that he was the CEO of the station and it was not in his mandate to take the committee on a tour as there were no terms of reference.
He also mentioned that there was a Board of directors at the television station.

MP Kunene then seized the opportunity to once again caution ‘S’gcoko’ where he mentioned that if the probe was meant for him individually, they would request him to be relieved of his duties while they investigated him but since it was not about him, he was at work.
“There is no one who is accused of anything as yet; anyone found to have done a crime will be known after submissions yet to be made by the people.
“Please do not feel like we are here to victimise or charge you,” he said. MP Lutfo again asked if they were not allowed to tour the building while stating that they wanted a yes or no answer.

Reasons

Under Secretary in the Ministry of ICT, Ntombifuthi Sukati, who was standing in for the Principal Secretary, Maxwell Masuku, corrected ‘S’gcoko’ on the reasons the committee was there.

“We should look at it from the positive side, maybe they are here to clear your name and put an end to the investigations you said were being done to you on a yearly basis,” she said.

It was then that ‘S’gcoko’ responded tranquilly to request the committee not to come rough at them.
“I, ‘Sigcoko’siyangcinca’ have a problem with this because the way it is relayed does not give me confidence in as far as fair play and in partiality to it is concerned. I do not want to find myself in the deep end,” he said.

‘S’gcoko’ stated that he was also worried by that while Parliament claims there was confidentiality, he was afraid to make submissions because he had already been told that he had made contemptuous statements. He said the best way to have a consultative participation was through ensuring that everyone had a chance to voice out their aspirations. He said the person being investigated also had a right to be informed way before the actual  investigation.

“This investigation is giving me a problem because there is no write-up that is going to make everyone geared up for the investigation,”  stated ‘S’gcoko’.
Understood
Lutfo said he understood ‘S’gcoko’ and thanked him for reconsidering his earlier statement.
“Nami I allowed my emotions kutsi ahambe embili,” said Lutfo. He asked that what ‘S’gcoko’ said not be taken into the final report to be delivered in Parliament as he was not under oath when he said it.

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