Hlaudi’s salary: Muthambi should be fired

25 September 2015

The DA welcomes the statement issued by ANC Spokesperson Zizi Kodwa condemning Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s R 912 000 pay rise to R 3.7 million. Motsoeneng’s salary increase has now been slammed by a host of political organisations including the DA, ANC, ANCYL, Cosatu, Cope and the FF+. 

In the midst of all the cross-party condemnation, the silence of Communications Minister Faith Muthambi has been deafening. This will not be the first time the Minister appears to be at odds with her own party over Hlaudi Motsoeneng. 

Luthuli House was reportedly furious when Minister Muthambi confirmed Motsoeneng’s appointment as Chief Operations Officer on 7 July last year. Then, in Parliament on 3 September this year, Muthambi publicly disagreed with the ANC’s NGC discussion document that states there is a leadership crisis at the SABC.

For too long Minister Muthambi has protected and promoted Motsoeneng because of his proximity to President Zuma. As Muthambi said to former SABC Board Member Hope Zinde: “But Baba loves Hlaudi, he loves him so much. We must support him.”

It was Muthambi who pressurised the SABC Board to recommend Motsoeneng for the position of COO in defiance of the Public Protector’s report. And it was Muthambi who saw to it that SABC Board Members who voted against Motsoeneng’s appointment were unlawfully removed from office.

So, if the ANC is serious about dealing with Motsoeneng, it will put pressure on President Zuma to remove Minister Muthambi from the Cabinet. Muthambi’s removal would send out the clearest signal that the ANC has finally lost patience with the never-ending shenanigans at the SABC.

Statement issued by Gavin Davis MP, DA Shadow Minister of Communications, 25 September 2015