Motsoeneng reports for work as 'ordinary employee'

20 September 2016

Johannesburg – SABC chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng reported for duty as an ordinary employee on Tuesday, his lawyer said.

"He [Motsoeneng] tended to his services this morning," Zola Majavu told News24.

"We wrote to the SABC on Monday afternoon to ask for clarity about Motsoeneng’s appointment, but they haven’t responded yet. They said they need more time to consult and will get back to us.

"We will have more details until the employer [SABC] finalise their consultation," he said.

In a court order, dated September 15, the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein rejected his bid for leave to appeal against a High Court ruling that set aside his permanent appointment.

SABC studying judgment

SABC spokesperson Kaiser Kganyago said he would comment once the broadcaster's lawyers had studied the judgment. He said the judgment affected not only Motsoeneng, but the entire SABC.

Motsoeneng’s application for leave to appeal was dismissed with costs on the grounds that it had no reasonable prospect of success.

There was no other compelling reason why it should be heard, the SCA said in its judgment.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found in a report released in February 2014 that Motsoeneng had lied about his qualifications when he applied for the post of COO, that he hiked his salary from R1.5m to R2.4m in one year, and that he purged senior staff.

Despite these adverse findings, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi confirmed his permanent appointment by the board.

In November 2015, the Western Cape High Court found Motsoeneng's appointment was irrational and unlawful and set it aside. The DA had brought the application.

The DA got a court order forcing the SABC to hold a disciplinary hearing against him, but he was cleared of the charges in December 2015.

On May 23 this year, Judge Dennis Davis dismissed his application for leave to appeal.

This article first appeared on News 24, see here.