High court rejects Hlaudi’s appeal to return to SABC
FORMER SABC strongman Hlaudi Motsoeneng was dealt a blow by the Western Cape High Court yesterday when it rejected his appeal.
The SABC had appealed against an earlier judgment that effectively stopped Motsoeneng working for the public broadcaster.
In November, Judge Owen Rodgers ruled that Motsoeneng could not be employed in any position at the corporation.
This followed the findings of the public protector in 2014 and the judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal in September.
SABC acting chief executive James Aguma lodged the application without the portfolio committee on communications knowing about it.
The committee has demanded answers from Communications Minister Faith Muthambi.
Committee chairman Humphrey Maxegwana said they had not set a date to meet Muthambi.
It was Motsoeneng’s umpteenth court hearing since he was appointed chief operating officer in July 2014.
Former SABC board members and executives have implicated him in many irregularities in the hearings of the ad hoc committee.
The DA, which lodged the court cases against Motsoeneng, said yesterday it hoped the judgment had put a stop to attempts to get Motsoeneng back to the corporation.
DA federal executive chairman James Selfe said this was a clear judgment that Motsoeneng was no longer wanted at the SABC.
“This is a victory for the rule of law and a positive step towards restoring the integrity and independence of the SABC,” he said.
He called for the SABC to get on with its job, and forget about Motsoeneng.
SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said it had not decided on its next course of action.
He would not say if the SABC’s lawyers would seek to petition the Supreme Court of Appeal.
The ad hoc committee has not yet made its recommendations.
It decided at its meeting two weeks ago it would discuss the recommendations when it meets next week.
This followed legal advice that they should not include the recommendations in the interim report.
But the DA was not happy with the committee’s decision and accused the ANC of backtracking.
ANC MPs denied taking instructions from Luthuli House. Discussions on the interim report will begin on Wednesday next week, and the committee hopes to meet the deadline set by Parliament to submit the final report by the end of the month.