Draw lessons from Hlaudi debacle
THE anticipated dismissal of Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the former SABC chief operating officer, has eventually materialised, much to everyone’s relief.
His defiant arrogance, conceited pseudo-intellect and patent ineptitude in holding a very crucial position as chief operating officer at the SABC has devolved into an embarrassing exit, which even he will find difficulty in overturning.
Chairperson of the interim board of the SABC, Khanyisile Kweyama, rightfully alluded to Motsoeneng’s lack of respect, which translated into a pathetically gross caricature of a man masquerading as some heavenly body that had descended to transform our public broadcaster into some magical arm of his “master’s voice”.
What makes Motsoeneng’s departure all the more pleasurable is the fact that he believed he was a law unto himself, devoid of any opposition or interference – a modern day dictator whose megalomania overrode his evidently low capacityof comprehending basic reality.
His brief tenure was a disaster as much as it was an offensive public relations exercise for the SABC, in trying to rein in a mad man on a mission of destruction.
His order that all stations play 90% local content was like a power keg waiting to explode – and it did.
The loss of revenue to the broadcaster as a result was untenable.
His self-imposed yet scandalous salary hikes against the backdrop of his glaring incapability was indeed a miscarriage of fairness and justice.
While he licks his wounds and rightfully so, the interim board has to, and must learn painful lessons from this debacle.
Its interrogative processes in selection must be intense as it must be exhaustive in identifying a candidate on pure merit and administrative capability, irrespective of their hue or political inclination so that the broader public enjoys a professional and meaningful broadcaster that will largely satisfy most of the people.
Should the interim board err on the side of prudence, and allow untoward influences to help them in their choice of good administrative leadership at the SABC, then I am afraid that another sub-standard performer will once again put us through our paces in angst, anger and anxiety to call for changes yet again. Only time will tell. NARENDH GANESH
Durban North