SABC acting chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng is waiting to hear from his employers regarding a damning report by public protector Thuli Madonsela, his lawyer said on Monday.
“We are still waiting to hear from the SABC. I spoke to Hlaudi yesterday [Sunday]. He has not heard from the board either,” said Motsoeneng’s lawyer Zola Majavu.
In a report released in February, titled “When governance and ethics fail”, Madonsela found that Motsoeneng’s appointment at the public broadcaster and his salary progression were irregular.
Madonsela urged then communications minister Yunus Carrim to take urgent steps to fill the chief operating officer post within 90 days. The 90-day deadline has since lapsed.
On Sunday, President Jacob Zuma announced the replacement of Carrim with Faith Muthambi as minister of the newly restructured communications department.
The new department is formed out of the SABC, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, Government Communications and Information System, Brand South Africa, and the Media Development and Diversity Agency.
When asked on Monday whether the SABC board had taken any decision on Motsoeneng based on Madonsela’s report, spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said: “I am not aware of anything regarding that.”
Complaints against Motsoeneng were raised with Madonsela by former SABC staff — including former chief operating officer Charlotte Mampane and ex-SABC senior executive Phumelele Ntombela-Nzimande.
He was also investigated for fraudulently misrepresenting his qualifications to the SABC, including claiming that he had passed matric when he applied for employment.
Madonsela concluded that Motsoeneng irregularly and rapidly increased the salaries of various staff members, resulting in the state broadcaster footing an unprecedented salary bill escalation of R29m.
She recommended that the SABC board institute corrective action against the “dishonest” Motsoeneng.
Motsoeneng, who has since been ordained as a priest, denied any wrongdoing.
He found support from a group of clerics and youth soon after the report was released.
The clerics slammed Madonsela, and labelled her report as “scandalous” at a press briefing in Johannesburg in February. — Sapa
