Hlaudi Motsoeneng, in an open letter on Sunday, dismissed allegations that he lied about having obtained a matric as an “untruth” and called for a stop to a “politically motivated assault” on him.
The SABC’s former chief operating officer and newly appointed group executive of corporate affairs said while he usually handled criticism well, he wanted to register his “strenuous objections to the unfounded attacks on my section 23 constitutional rights to fair labour practices perpetrated by politicians of all hues”.
“I obtained my employment at the SABC through hard work, dedication and qualifications,” he said.
These qualifications included the leadership development programme at the Gordon Institute of Business Science; national qualifications framework (NQF) level 7; the national certificate in generic management (Prodigy), NQF level 5 (higher certificate); the Thompson Foundation certificate in radio journalism; and analysis of contemporary social issues from the University of Witwatersrand.
He said he had also “played many leadership roles” as board member for the SABC, SABC Foundation and the Afcon Local Organising Committee. He said he also serves as a member of the Regenesys Business School Advisory Council.
“Those fuelled by the malignancy of bigotry” had disregarded his achievements and experience by focusing on the “untruth” that he lied about is matric certificate, he said.
“I was cleared at a disciplinary hearing where it was established beyond doubt that I didn’t lie about the existence of my matric certificate,” Motsoeneng wrote.
“Against this background, the announcements by the Democratic Alliance, [minister in the presidency responsible for monitoring & planning] Jeff Radebe and ANC chief whip [Jackson] Mthembu about my return to my position as SABC group executive for corporate affairs would not warrant a response from me.”
The DA on Sunday said that should the portfolio committee on communications not act on its promised dissolution of the SABC board by Wednesday, the party would pursue legal options.
This was after Mthembu said the public broadcaster’s current board was likely to be dissolved following its decision to reappoint Motsoeneng in an executive post, City Press reported.
Motsoeneng said “exceptional circumstances” had prompted him to respond.
“Their pronouncements are legally unsound, demonstrably false and malicious, they have a direct adverse impact on my constitutionally guaranteed rights to equality, dignity and fair employment practices, they are defamatory and have far-reaching consequences for the SABC and for me as a citizen.”