Former SABC executive Hlaudi Motsoeneng plans to visit a secondary school in Ivory Park, Tembisa to impart “tips and strategies for studying” to pupils there.
The visit to Tembisa’s Eqinisweni Secondary School forms part of a “second quarter motivational tour” under the theme “it’s possible, I can do it”, a media invitation reads.
The planned visit by Motsoeneng to the school has been arranged by an organisation calling itself the Kuzondlula Motivational Tour, and, according to the invitation, forms part of a “mandate to keep the youth of South Africa motivated to study and prioritising education and self-discipline”.
The invitation was published on Tuesday by Democratic Alliance MP and spokesman for basic education Gavin Davis, who said Motsoeneng should be banned by basic education minister Angie Motshekga from using schools as a political platform.
“The aim of this particular event is to tackle issues such as teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse, and child-headed families,” the invitation reads. “On the same note, we will be provide tips and strategies for studying.”
According to the media invitation, Motsoeneng aims to “keep the youth of South Africa motivated to study and focus in prioritising education and self-discipline”.
Davis slammed the planned visit to the school. “One wonders what study tips Motsoeneng can offer when he himself failed to obtain a matric, and was found by the public protector to have lied when he claimed that he had a matric qualification,” he said.
“He has also not hidden his disdain for schooling, claiming that ‘too much education is dangerous … it’s like overdosing on your medicine’.
“Motsoeneng is hardly a role model for any young person to emulate. Besides lying about this matric, he was found guilty of artificially inflating his SABC salary, purging and intimidating SABC staff members and running the public broadcaster into the ground.”
Davis said the visit appears to be “part of Motsoeneng’s ongoing political campaign following his suspension from his position at the SABC”.
He added that section 33A of the South African Schools Act makes it clear that political activities during school time are prohibited. “I have therefore written to minister Angie Motshekga to request that she prevents Motsoeneng from conducting his political campaign in schools.” — © 2017 NewsCentral Media
