Opposing forces gang up on Hlaudi
SABC BOARD MEMBERS PLEAD WITH CHAIRMAN:
HLAUDI Motsoeneng is in the firing line — claims have emerged that President Jacob Zuma has lost confidence in him, and two SABC board members have called for an urgent meeting ahead of a parliamentary committee hearing this week.
The Sunday Times has seen letters from board members Krish Naidoo and Vusi Mavuso, asking that chairman Mbulaheni Maguvhe call a meeting for Tuesday — a day before the board appears before the communications portfolio committee to explain why Motsoeneng was appointed group executive of corporate affairs.
Naidoo is a legal adviser to the ANC with a long history in the struggle.
He and Mavuso declined to speak to the Sunday Times, but Naidoo says in his letter that acting CEO James Aguma should be suspended and Motsoeneng’s appointment set aside.
“Mr Aguma seems to be labouring under an incorrect understanding that he has the necessary authority to appoint Mr Motsoeneng as a group executive without reference to the board and without reference to the human resource and employment policy and procedures of the organisation,” Naidoo wrote.
Committee chairman Humphrey Maxegwana confirmed they were considering a parliamentary inquiry into the broadcaster, and had summoned the board to explain the processes that had been followed regarding Motsoeneng’s appointment.
The Sunday Times can also reveal that on Monday four SABC executives and two managers were offered severance packages totalling millions.
They included group executive for radio Leslie Ntloko, group executive for risk and governance Itani Tseisi, group executive for TV Verona Duwarkah and executive head of procurement Madoda Shushu.
Staffers at the SABC described the mood at the broadcaster this week as veering between helplessness and cautious optimism that Motsoeneng and Aguma’s destructive reign of terror was about to end.
Meanwhile, confidential documents show that the SABC is far worse off than Aguma claimed when he released the broadcaster’s 2016 financial results on Thursday. — Additional Reporting by Babalo Ndenze
SABC board members have written to chairman Mbulaheni Maghuve demanding that Hlaudi Motsoeneng and acting CEO James Aguma get the chop.
The letters, obtained by the Sunday Times, ask Maghuve to convene an urgent board meeting on Tuesday to suspend Aguma for unlawfully appointing Motsoeneng as group executive of corporate affairs this week.
They want the meeting held on the eve of a parliamentary communications committee meeting on Wednesday, when the board is expected to face a grilling.
The letters were written by board members Krish Naidoo and Vusi Mavuso, both of whom declined to comment to the Sunday Times. They are seen as the only critics of Aguma and Motsoeneng on the nine-person board. Naidoo is a legal adviser to the ANC with a long struggle history.
Barely a fortnight after Motsoeneng lost his court bid to appeal against a ruling declaring his appointment as chief operations officer irrational and unlawful, he also appears to have lost the support of President Jacob Zuma. Zuma chaired a cabinet meeting on Wednesday at which Communications Minister Faith Muthambi — overseas at the time — was directed to take “urgent steps’’ to deal with issues at the SABC. A cabinet statement afterwards said appointing Motsoeneng to another executive post showed disrespect for the rule of law.
“This is it. Even the president has washed his hands of him,” said a source with close ties to senior ANC leadership.
“It’s become too costly for Zuma to carry him,” said another source. “You can’t allow the broadcaster to free-fall for another two years before the elections. Hlaudi is a liability if you want to control the broadcaster. He just brings scandal.’’
On Tuesday, Motsoeneng re- placed Bessie Tugwana as head of corporate affairs. She was given a new post of head of special projects in Aguma’s office.
The letters by Naidoo and Mavuso are a scathing indictment of the breakdown of governance and respect for the rule of law at the SABC.
Naidoo says in his letter: “Our President and the ruling party hold the rule of law sacrosanct. The SABC executives are bound by the same rule.
“Mr Aguma seems to be labouring under an incorrect understanding that he has the necessary authority to appoint Mr Motsoeneng as a group executive without reference to the board and without reference to the human resource and employment policy and procedures of the organisation.”
If Aguma failed to provide “a proper legal explanation”, Tugwana and Motsoeneng’s appointments should be “set aside as arbitrary and hence irrational and unlawful, and Mr Aguma [should] be suspended pending the institution of disciplinary action against him for his arbitrary and reckless conduct”.
Mavuso’s letter also asks the board to address allegations of a bonus paid to Motsoeneng, reported by the Sunday Times last week, for negotiating a contract with MultiChoice that critics say cost the SABC R2-billion.
The move follows a week of high drama at the SABC.
The Sunday Times can also reveal that on Monday four SABC executives and two senior managers were offered severance packages totalling tens of millions. They included group executive for radio Leslie Ntloko, group executive for risk and governance Itani Tseisi, group executive for TV Verona Duwarkah and executive head of procurement Madoda Shushu.
Despite effectively being demoted it is understood Motsoeneng will keep his salary, hiked from R3.8-million to R4.2-million, and his sumptuous office.
SABC staff described the mood at the broadcaster this week as veering between helplessness and cautious optimism.
“People are battle-weary here. War-fatigued,” said one. “They don’t even know if the word of cabinet can be trusted. Even though the judiciary, the leg- islature and the executive have spoken, the problem is that there’s a shadow cabinet.”
Another said “there’s lot of incredulous laughter that Hlaudi got reappointed, but also a sense of helplessness. Nobody trusts parliament. But there’s a shallow hope that the tide is turning.”
Tugwana seems shellshocked. “She sits in meetings and just stares,” said a colleague. She could not be reached for comment.
Motsoeneng declined to comment; Aguma and Maghuve did not respond to messages.
This is it. Even the president has washed his hands of him