Minister Muthambi explains Hlaudi promotion

SibusisoBanda

Communications minister Faith Muthambi said there was no pressure in her decision to appoint SABC’s Hlaudi Motsoeneng to a permanent position.

The minister told journalists in Pretoria that upon making the decision to officially appoint Hlaudi as the Chief Operations Officer on a permanent basis, she considered various reports and recommendations that were sent to her.

Muthambi cited the recommendations and submission make by the SABC board, the Broadcasting Act, shareholder’s compact, Thuli Madonsela report, Hlaudi’s success track record to date and also a report of a law firm that was appointed by the public broadcaster to investigate the allegations made by the public protector.

“The appointment of the independent law firm by the SABC board to investigate all issues raised was the most responsible way to deal with the Public Protector report,”

The minister described the law firm as “credible” but did not disclose of its name.

News of Motsoeneng appointment has raised eyebrows with various organisations reacting with “shock” over the developments. The appointment flies in the face of a recommendation by Madonsela that the SABC fill the "long-outstanding vacant post" of chief operations officer with a qualified permanent appointment.

In a damning report earlier this year, Madonsela criticised Motsoeneng for fraudulently misrepresenting his qualifications, including claiming that he had passed matric, when he applied for employment.

Madonsela also found that he had irregularly raised the salaries of various staff members, increasing the salary bill by R29m. The public protector also found that he had received three "irregular" salary increases, taking his salary from R1.5m to R2m a year.

With regards to the African National Congress and SACP’s reaction to the appointment, Muthambi said she is not going to “engage in mudslinging with her comrades,”

“I am an African National Congress member. I know where to raise issues.”

The minister added that she is a disciple member and she will engage with members in the ANC in an appropriate platform and not in the media.

“The SABC board and myself are satisfied that the report by the appointed firm of attorneys has cleared Motsoeneng of any wrong doing and therefore there was nothing before me that suggested I should not confirm the appointment.”

Muthambi also confirmed that the SABC Board was also in the final stage of the process of collecting all the necessary information to forward to the public protector regarding the decision.

“The board will meet the deadline,” she added.