Hlaudi hits out at member of SABC board

Motsoeneng says he was slandered in ‘personal attack’

Embattled former SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng has lashed out at board member Krish Naidoo‚ accusing him of lying to parliament and “slandering” him.

Motsoeneng has made the comments in an affidavit in response to the charges in his disciplinary hearing.

He is trying to halt the disciplinary hearing into alleged misconduct following an April 19 media briefing at which he criticised a parliamentary committee that held an inquiry into alleged irregularities at the SABC as well as the fitness of its board.

In particular Motsoeneng was critical of Naidoo‚ who is a member of the current interim SABC board and served on the former board of the public broadcaster.

Motsoeneng launched a scathing attack on Naidoo for comments he made during his appearance before the ad hoc committee. He described Naidoo as a “sellout” who lied under oath.

At the media conference‚ Motsoeneng also defended his decision to implement a 90% local content policy at the public broadcaster.

In the affidavit filed yesterday, Motsoeneng reiterated his criticism of Naidoo.

“The first striking statement Mr Naidoo make at such [an] interview is his personal attack directed at me. Mr Naidoo‚ with whom I worked with since 2013‚ playing to the politics of the day‚ refers to me as a high school dropout,” Motsoeneng said in the affidavit.

“This statement is untrue. Mr Naidoo is well aware that I possessed of a qualification from an accredited institution equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree.

“I have been subjected to unjustified slandering and malingering by the press‚ politicians and specifically Mr Naidoo. A typical example is the suggestion that I am unqualified for my current role. Mr Naidoo in his address before the ad hoc committee referred to me as a ‘high school dropout’ and a ‘squatter at a national key point’‚” the affidavit reads.

Motsoeneng further stated that he had every right to call Naidoo a “liar” because Naidoo had “misled” parliament and the public. He added that the disciplinary hearing was not in line with the SABC’s own procedures.

The disciplinary hearing is set to resume on Friday.