The SABC has paid its bosses R42,6m in golden handshakes in the past six years, communications minister Faith Muthambi has revealed in answers to parliamentary questions posed by the Democratic Alliance.

Former CEO Dali Mpofu was the biggest beneficiary, receiving a separation package of R6,7m plus R4,4m in a restraint of trade payment and an additional R2,1m in legal fees, bringing the total to R13,2m.

Former CEO Lulama Mokhobo was paid out R5,6m after completing less than a year of her five-year contract. The R5,6m is made up of a R4,2m agreed separation payment plus R1,4m in restraint of trade.

Other executives to receive millions from the public broadcaster include former head of news Phil Molefe, who was paid R4,9m to resign in 2013. He was forced out, says DA MP Gavin Davis, because he allegedly refused to bow to political pressure to blacklist Julius Malema from the airwaves.

Former acting chief operating officer Christine Mampane received R4,3m and former CEO Solly Mokoetle R3,8m. Mokoetle is now head of the digital migration project at the department of communications.

“The amount paid to executives whose contracts are terminated prematurely averages out at R7m/year. This is the equivalent of 26 415 annual TV licence renewals,” Davis says in a statement.

In virtually all of these cases, the executives receiving the payouts were purged for political reasons,” he adds.

“As with other public entities, SABC executives are hired on the basis of their perceived loyalty to the dominant faction of the ANC instead of their ability to do the job. When deployed cadres fall out of political favour, they get dumped with a massive payout to soften the landing.