DA’s eyes glued to SABC door

THE DA will be watching closely to see if the SABC exboss Hlaudi Motsoeneng pitches for work.

The party has succeeded in its Western Cape High Court bid to have the controversial group executive of cooperate affairs removed from his post and to have a fresh disciplinary process instituted against him.

The court action emanated from the former public protector Thuli Madonsela’s 2014 report, which found that Motsoeneng had abused his power and increased his salary from R1.5-million to R2.4-million within one year. She also found he lied about his matric qualifications and irregularly hiked various salaries.

Motsoeneng said his term at the SABC had been beneficial. “I led a turnaround strategy that [overturned] the SABC’s dismal financial state which had reached levels of requiring National Treasury to provide it with a R1-billion guarantee‚ and in the process saved over 800 jobs‚” he said.

“The first time the SABC realised any profit was in 2013 under my stewardship when it ended the financial year with a positive cash balance of R1.4-billion. I remain competent and able to discharge a function.”

The high court set aside the findings of the SABC board hearing that exonerated him last year.

His appointment as the group executive for corporate affairs was also set aside and a new disciplinary process will now commence.

The DA’s James Selfe welcomed the ruling, adding his party had lodged seven court actions to stop Motsoeneng from holding a top position at the SABC since 2014.

“Our view is that if he (Motsoeneng) pitches up for work… he will be acting illegally and in contempt of court.” — TMG Digital