Former SABC group CEO Lulama Mokhobo has denied approving an irregular salary increase for acting chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, Sowetan reported on Thursday.
“I feel very hurt and disturbed by the report because I did not approve the increase. The signatures on the document show that my signature is not the approving one and it is wrong for them to say I approved the document,” Mokhobo was quoted as saying.
Mokhobo was one of the people implicated in public protector Thuli Madonsela’s report titled “When governance and ethics fail” released on Monday.
The report said Motsoeneng’s salary increased from R1,5m to R2,4m in one year.
Madonsela recommended the SABC board initiate disciplinary measures against Mokhobo for her improper conduct in approving Motsoeneng’s irregular salary increases.
Complaints against Motsoeneng were raised with Madonsela by former SABC staff — including former chief operations officer Charlotte Mampane and ex-SABC senior executive Phumelele Ntombela-Nzimande.
Motsoeneng was also investigated for fraudulently misrepresenting his qualifications to the SABC, including that he had passed matric when he applied for employment.
Madonsela said allegations that Motsoeneng committed fraud by stating in his application form that he had completed matric at Metsimantsho High School in QwaQwa were also substantiated.
“By his own admission, Motsoeneng stated in his application form that he had passed matric, filled in made-up symbols in the same application form, and promised to supply a matric certificate to confirm his qualifications when he knew he did not have the promised certificate, [this] was admitted by him during an interview,” said Madonsela.
“Motsoeneng would have never been appointed in 1995 had he not lied about his qualification and … he repeated that lie in 2003 when he applied for the post of executive producer [of] current affairs to which he accordingly should have never been appointed.” — Sapa
