Motsoeneng in hot water as SIU seeks to recover R22m from him
FORMER SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng may find himself in trouble yet again as the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) intends to recover more than R21.7 million from him for undue incentive bonuses, illegal appointments and dismissals.
The team appeared before Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications yesterday, when it briefed the committee on the interim presidential report investigation into the cash-strapped SABC.
Motsoeneng yesterday told Independent Media that he did not pay himself and saw nothing irregular with the appointments or salary increases when he was at the broadcaster.
SIU head advocate Jan Lekhoa Mothibi said: “The SIU and SABC jointly issued summons on February 5 in the High Court, Johannesburg, against Mr Motsoeneng for a civil case aimed at the recovery of R11 508 549.12 in terms of the bonuses that were paid. We also intend to recover R10 235 453.20 for the irregular appointments and salary increments, suspensions and unlawful terminations of employments.”
Mothibi said evidence obtained by the SIU also indicated that there were irregularities in the appointments and salary increases awarded by Motsoeneng. “The SIU also confirmed the public protector’s findings that the appointments of SABC staff or salary increases were irregular.
“This included that of Ms Sully Motsweni, Ms Thobekile Khumalo and Ms Guga Duda,” said Mothibi.
He said they had also uncovered court-ready evidence which implicated six SABC executives and eight officials.
Motsoeneng said he was disappointed with the SIU.
“It seems as if, in my personal view, they are now playing politics. The information that they’re giving there is worrisome. “These people portray us as if we have committed fraud at the SABC. I can tell you in my era, especially where I was involved, there was no fraud and corruption at the SABC.
“I don’t want to deal with specific matters that are in court. But if you want to check their heads of argument, it will show that the SIU does not have a case,” said Motsoeneng.
The SIU presented a report on its phase 1 investigation into the SABC in terms of the presidential proclamation R29 of 2017, which focused on a variety of issues, including the irregular awarding of contracts, maladministration and irregular appointments and salary increases.
The SIU has also found evidence that indicated there were irregularities in the awarding of eight contracts, which included Vision View Productions CC, SekelaXabiso CA Incorporated, Lorna Vision (Pty) Ltd and Lezaf Consulting.
Mothibi told Parliament that former SABC board members and top executives were now in the SIU’s sights for allegedly failing to act in the best interests of the public broadcaster.
The SIU would also investigate the contract between MultiChoice and the SABC, which the Competition Commission declared a merger.
Earlier this month, the commission released the report finding that the encryption part of the 2013 agreement amounted to a notifiable merger, and recommended that the SABC and MultiChoice file the 2013 agreement as a merger with respect to the encryption part of that agreement.
“Our investigation will focus on the legality of the agreement and the roles played by individuals involved in the process, and whether any of them unduly benefited,” said Mothibi.