‘No need to advertise Motsoeneng’s post’
COMMUNICATIONS Minister Faith Muthambi has defended the SABC’s decision not to advertise Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s current position‚ saying there was no need to do so.
The DA questioned why Motsoeneng’s current position as group executive of corporate affairs‚ as well as his former position as chief operating officer‚ had been filled without being advertised.
Responding to a written question from DA MP Phumzile van Damme on whether the two positions had been advertised externally before the appointments of Motsoeneng and Bessie Tugwana as chief operating officer‚ Muthambi said they had not been.
Her written parliamentary response came a day after parliament’s ad hoc committee set up to investigate the SABC met for the first time.
Muthambi has been included in the list of witnesses who will testify before the inquiry.
“There was no need to advertise the position of chief operating officer as Ms Tugwana is acting in this position,” she said.
“Mr Motsoeneng was reinstated to the position he occupied before his appointment as chief operating officer.”
Van Damme said: “The minister does not provide an indication of whether the chief operating officer position will be advertised‚ lending credence to the perception that the position is being kept for Mr Motsoeneng.”
Muthambi’s spokesman, Ayanda Holo, said yesterday that Motsoeneng had always been a permanent employee of the SABC.
“Hlaudi is a stakeholder person,” Holo said. “He then goes for a higher position and as a stakeholder he’s a permanent employee.
“They think they have that position‚ but the judge says no you don’t have that position.
“So where does he go back to? To his original position.”
Holo said Tugwana was acting in the chief operating position.
He said when the time came that the SABC wanted to employ someone permanently, the position would be advertised and interviews would be held.
Holo said it would be up to Tugwana to decide whether she wanted to apply for the post.
There would also be nothing preventing Motsoeneng from applying.
Van Damme said the DA would raise the matter during hearings of the ad hoc committee which were due to begin on November 29. – TMG Digital