EFF statement on the appointment of hlaudi as sabc coo by minister of communications

9 July 2014

Economic Freedom Fighters is distraught by the announcement made by Minister Faith Muthambi yesterday, appointing Haludi Motsoeneng as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the SABC. This appointment is not only illegal but also raises concerns around how the Minister intends to carry out all duties entrusted to her department.

The Minister assured South Africans during the Parliamentary Joint Portfolio Committee on Communications and Telecommunications and Postal Services last Friday that she will do the following;

Handle the Vusi Mbembe's court order against the SABC,

Ensure that the SABC responds and applies the recommendations of the Public Protector report, and

Revise the Articles of Association and the Memorandum of Association

Not even a week after making such promises, the Minister defies all odds and appoints Hlaudi Motsoeneng. Motsoeneng does not deserve to be COO, because he is a liar and a conman. He lied about his academic background and used the very same lies to sell the SABC to Multichoice. It is astonishing that the Minister rewards such insanity.

Either the Minister is weak or intentionally misled the public about making sure to restore the public confidence on the leadership of SABC. Motsoeneng's appointment is a reward for being a faithful servant. He is being rewarded for for turning the SABC into a state broadcaster that worships and serves the interests of  the ruling party.

The EFF will take the issue to Court, in the same way we did with Pansy Tlakula, and we are confident that a fair and reasonable Court of Law will find Hlaudi Motsoeneng inedible to occupy any public office. This is indeed a sad day in the fight against corruption, for minister Muthambi has condoned lies and fraud in the promotion of Hlaudi Motshoeneng.

Statement issued by Economic Freedom Fighters, July 9 2014

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