DA wants Motsoeneng to pay R22m in court costs
THE official opposition wants the SABC to hold its former chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, personally responsible for the R22 million incurred in legal costs while he was at the public broadcaster.
This comes after the party yesterday made public a written reply in Parliament by former communications minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubaneto a question by the DA’s Phumzile van Damme.
“This R22m by far exceeds the R15m taxpayers have had to fork out on former president Jacob Zuma’s legal fees,” Van Damme said.
The legal cases the SABC spent money on in defence of the former COO include that of former SABC news anchor Vuyo Mvoko (R1 186 184), former SABC head of news Verona Duwarkah (R505 985), Helen Suzman Foundation (R1 659 490), DA (R5 370 828) and various board matters (R4 990 985).
Van Damme said just like Zuma, Motsoeneng should pay this money back to the public purse. “The public should not have to pay for this one-man wrecking ball’s legal fees,” she said.
Motsoeneng is fighting at the Commission of Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration to get his job back.
The Special Investigating Unit is seeking to recover R21m from embattled Motsoeneng for payments he irregularly received from the public broadcaster. “Every single cent must be recovered from him.”
Van Damme said Motsoeneng left a trail of destruction in his wake. “He flouted policy processes; demoralised, victimised and purged staff; brought the SABC’s newsroom into disrepute and left the public broadcaster on the brink of collapse,” she said.
“The DA calls on the SABC to personally hold Hlaudi responsible for this excessive amount of money.”
Van Damme said the recovery of the amount would go a long way to help sustain the SABC.
It was reported earlier this week that the SABC was owed R25 billion in unpaid licence fees that have steadily accumulated over three years, landing the public broadcaster in deep financial trouble.
IT FAR EXCEEDS THE R15 MILLION TAXPAYERS HAD TO FORK OUT ON ZUMA’S LEGAL FEES