Ex-SABC strongman lands in more trouble
AXED SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng headed to the CCMA yesterday to seek recourse, instead his fortunes took a turn for the worse.
Moments after the disgraced former chief operating officer failed to reach an agreement with his former employer at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, it emerged the SABC interim board had instituted legal proceedings to recoup the millions of rand it lost during his disastrous tenure. Motsoeneng’s lawyer, Zola Majavu, said the case was headed for arbitration.
The SABC is also gunning for Motsoeneng’s right hand man, former chief financial officer, James Aguma, as it seeks to recover millions it lost in advertisement revenue, among others, during the pair’s turbulent tenure.
Chairperson of the SABC interim board Khanyisile Kweyama said they had sought legal opinion on the liability of board members and group executives. The action sought would see the SABC recovering the monies it lost from the executives who “knowingly participate in the making of decisions or accede to decisions being made which are contrary to the policies of the corporation, principles of corporate governance”, or in breach of legislation.
“Proceedings have commenced to exercise a lien over pension payments due to Messrs Aguma and Motsoeneng and arrangements are under way to institute urgent legal action if necessary,” said Kweyama.
She was updating Parliament’s portfolio committee on communication on their progress in implementing the recommendations of the ad hoc committee that investigated the SABC board, which the National Assembly adopted in March.
The SABC was concerned that delays by President Jacob Zuma to sign a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) proclamation to probe the rot at the cash-strapped public broadcaster could see Motsoeneng cashing in on his pension millions.
Without the proclamation, it would be difficult for the broadcaster to recover the money.
Motsoeneng hiked his own pay from R1.5 million to R2.4m in one year.
He also got paid R11.4m for negotiating the controversial R533m deal with MultiChoice, which gave the private broadcaster access to the SABC’s archive.
Yesterday Parliament ratcheted up the pressure on Zuma to sign the SIU proclamation that will pave the way for a probe into several contracts awarded at the SABC, including those during Motsoeneng’s tenure.