This is according to a document tabled in parliament by communications minister Solly Malatsi in response to a question from fellow Democratic Alliance MP Patrick Atkinson, who asked him about the amount of financial assistance that has been given to sector SOEs in the past five years.
Atkinson also wanted to know how many of the entities were profitable and whether any of the CEOs of loss-making entities were paid performance bonuses.
Malatsi revealed that National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa Nemisa CEO Trevor Rammitlwa received bonuses in the 2022 and 2023 financial years despite it reporting a loss in both reporting periods.
"The 2021/2022 performance bonus for the CEO was paid out during the 2022/2023 financial year and the 2022/2023 bonus paid in the 2023/2024 reporting period," according to Malatsi's document. "The payments were due to the organisation's overall achievement, with a clean audit and final performance of 95."
Money is tight all around. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, communications department director-general Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani said budgetary constraints have made it difficult for the department to deliver on its mandate and has held "numerous engagements" with national treasury to try to secure additional funding.