Hlaudi in final bid for SABC post
Broadcaster says ex COO not qualified
Former SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng has claimed in his last-ditch effort to be reinstated that he could not be charged for expressing views about people outside his employment.
This was one of his closing arguments at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration yesterday where he is contesting his dismissal as chief operating officer by the public broadcaster.
In April last year, Motsoeneng at a press briefing criticised board member Krish Naidoo, Western Cape High Court Judge Andre le Grange, and a parliamentary committee looking into the affairs of the public broadcaster and the board’s fitness to hold office.
Motsoeneng’s lawyer advocate Thabani Masuku said his client was not employed by the committee. “You cannot by some very convoluted manner try to reach the conclusion that the ad hoc committee is an SABC branch that when you speak and criticise... you are essentially criticising your employer,” he said.
Masuku argued that none of the people mentioned in Motsoeneng’s scathing attack were employed by the SABC, including Naidoo who claimed he was defamed by being called a sell-out.
Masuku said it was unfair that Motsoeneng was charged for merely responding to Naidoo’s sentiments about him being a high school dropout.
“Mr Motsoeneng is entitled to respond to a private citizen who insulted him in public. He is entitled to have a view about a judge and whether that judge is partial or not.
“The SABC cannot embark on a war against an employee because he made remarks about a private citizen and nobody should lose their job because they hold those views.”
Masuku argued there was nothing that showed his client had brought the SABC into disrepute.
But the SABC legal representative advocate Anton Myburgh said Motsoeneng didn’t have sufficient qualifications to be reinstated into executive positions.
“… the continued employment relationship will not be possible and the reinstatement would not be practical.”