Motsoeneng vows to bounce back

SUSPENDED SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng said he was looking forward to his second disciplinary hearing‚ because he was “gonna walk” it.

He told a media conference yesterday that the court had ruled he must stay at home until his disciplinary hearing – but he was confident of success.

“I am gonna walk the second one. I walked the first one. I am enjoying myself. I enjoyed being fired and coming back. I enjoyed it,” he said.

“Some people think a disciplinary hearing is the end of the working. For me‚ it is beginning of the world.”

The conference was held to defend the policy of government radio stations playing 90% local music.

The new SABC board may review policy soon as it been blamed for large drops in listenership and advertising revenue.

Motsoeneng said that The Friends of Hlaudi Motsoeneng had organised the media conference because he was inundated with questions about his suspension.

“Everywhere I go, people are asking about these allegations. Around the world, people talk about Hlaudi. They even don’t know what this man looks like.

“What you see is what you get‚” he said about himself.

“I have a very good team. You know‚ I have advocate Zola Majavu. What I know is I am a fighter.”

Defending his decision to insist SABC radio stations only show 90% local content, he said the 90% music content policy was boosting local artists sales.

He said black and white people needed to work together and that the quota benefited both black and white people.

Local artists sang and danced at the conference and publicly praised Motsoeneng.

He was referred to by his supporters as “the rose that grew from the concrete” and “the people’s CEO”. They also referred to him as “Mr 90%”.

Motsoeneng also called on government to regulate all broadcasters‚ including commercial radio stations‚ to ensure they played a majority of local content.

Singer Blondie Makhene was among those speaking in support of Motsoeneng.

“I’m saying to the new board at the SABC‚ don’t come to play with us. We are not the children who you controlled before‚” the singer said.

He said that musicians would oppose any change to the policy. — TMG