SABC1 — The SABC studios in Auckland Park (image: Mike Powell)

Former SABC CEO Solly Mokoetle says he has not been asked to take up the position of director-general at the department of communications.

Speculation has been mounting that Mokoetle is in line for the top job at the department, with the Democratic Alliance saying at the weekend that it had received confirmation from two sources at the department that Mokoetle will be redeployed as director-general.

“The DA does not believe that Mokoetle is the right person for the job. Not only did the SABC board suspend him for his failure to perform his duties as CEO of the public broadcaster, but his record is also less than exemplary,” says DA communications spokesman Natasha Michael.

But Mokoetle tells TechCentral that there is no truth to the speculation. “I wish to confirm to you categorically that I have never been approached by anyone about the department of communications director-general position.”

Communications department spokesman Tiyani Rikhotso says the vacant position has been advertised and says the department has no comment on the “sheer speculation” about Mokoetle.

The department put out a call for applications for the position of director-general last week. Harold Wesso, a veteran of the department, has held the position in an acting capacity since former communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda axed Mamodupi Mohlala last year.

Mokoetle left the state-owned broadcaster last week under a cloud of controversy. He was paid a R3,4m settlement in exchange for his resignation.

Communications minister Roy Padayachie told the broadcaster’s board members to disclose the settlement agreement after rumours that Mokoetle’s payout was as high as R30m.

Mokoetle was appointed as SABC CEO on Nyanda’s watch in 2009. But he soon fell out of favour with the broadcaster’s board of directors for, among other things, appointing the controversial Phil Molefe as head of news. — Candice Jones, TechCentral