The SABC hastily convened a press conference to tell the world an open secret: admitting that Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the South African public broadcaster's acting chief operating officer (COO) and second highest ranking executive doesn't have a matric certificate; that Hlaudi Motsoeneng never passed grade 12; and that the SABC knew he didn't have matric but appointed him anyway.
The SABC is feeling pressure after South Africa's public protector Thuli Madonsela was asked to investigate how a stringer helping the SABC's news division in Bloemfontein, could rise so quickly to become acting chief operating officer (COO) at the beleaguered SABC without even having matric.
The SABC therefore convened a press conference to trot out a talking head to admit that the SABC knew all along Hlaudi Motsoeneng didn't have a matric certificate. Hlaudi Motsoeneng wasn't present at the press conferece.
The SABC trotted out the SABC chairperson Ben Ngubane (middle) with Kaizer Kganyago, spokesperson (right) steering the press conference held at the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters.
Alwyn Kloppers, the SABC's regional resources manager for SABC News (left) was on call to make statements proving that the SABC knew all along Hlaudi Motsoeneng was appointed but doesn't even have the bare minimum expected educational qualification.
Alwyn Kloppers gave an outline of Hlaudi Motsoeneng's employment history. Ben Ngubane came out in support of Hlaudi Motsoeneng. Ben Ngubane denied that Hlaudi Motsoeneng had lied about his qualifications. Earlier this year media stories said Hlaudi Motsoeneng had been appointed acting COO despite not having a matric certificate.
Hlaudi Motsoeneng was appointed as a stringer in 1995. He was then appointed as a journalist.
"I also informed the management that I asked Hlaudi Motsoeneng about his qualifications," said Alwyn Kloppers. "He told me that he didn't have matric. But he was a paid stringer of the SABC. He showed a committment and a passion for the journalistic work."
"We fully investigated the manner in which Hlaudi Motsoeneng came to be employed at the SABC. He did not lie when he was appointed. Nor was he dismissed or even charged by the SABC for anything to do with qualifications,'' said Ben Ngubane.
Ben Ngubane also used his opportunity to lash out at the press for how they're covering the SABC, saying they're causing division and instability at South Africa's public broadcaster.
