The SABC's famously matricless acting chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng who lied about having a matric (Grade 12) and made up fake symbols for a matric certificate he knew he didn't have and can't provide, should never have appointed at the SABC, says the Public Protector in a damning report about the SABC released today.
In the report South Africa's Public Protector Thuli Madonsela slams the beleaguered South African public broadcaster which has been lurching from crisis to crisis since 2008, for maladministration and abuse of power.
The Public Protector also slams Hlaudi Motsoeneng whose meteoric rise within the SABC started with "gross fraudulent misrepresentation of facts by declaring himself to be in possession of a matric certificate obtained at Metsimantsho High" in QwaQwa, as well as the irregular purging of SABC staff which forced the broadcaster to do payout settlements amounting to millions.
"Hlaudi Motsoeneng would never have been appointed in 1995 had he not lied about his qualifications. He repeated that lie in 2003 when he applied for the executive producer: current affairs position, to which he accordingly should never have been appointed," the Public Protector states in the scathing report.
The Public Protector also slammed the SABC and Hlaudi Motsoeneng for the 3 "irregular" salary increases from R1,5 milion per year to R2,4 million in a single year.
The Public Protector's report note that Hlaudi Motsoeneng "admitted, during his recorded interview, that he had falsifiedhis matric qualifications". The Public Protector report also noted that Hlaudi Motsoeneng's human resources file at the SABC at some point disappeared.
Hlaudi Motsoeneng "indicated that he passed Standard 10 ("matric") in 1991 at the age of 23 and indicated five (5) symbols he had purported to have obtained in this regard".
The Public Protector says Hlaudi Motsoeneng shows "a lack of ethical conduct".
The Public Protector's report finds that Hlaudi Motsoeneng's appointment as the acting chief operating officer (COO) at the SABC was "irregular" and that the SABC board is in violation of the Broadcasting Act, and that Hlaudi Motsoeneng serving in this position "constitutes improper conduct and maladministration".
The former SABC chairperson dr Ben Ngubane is also fingered in the report.
The report finds that dr Ben Ngubane "acted irregularly when he ordered that the qualification requirements for the appointment to the position of COO be altered to remove academic qualifications as previously advertised, which was clearly aimed at tailor-making the advert to suit Hlaudi Motsoeneng's circumstances".
The report finds that dr Ben Ngubane "acted irregularly when he ordered that the qualification requirements for the appointment to the position of COO be altered to remove academic qualifications as previously advertised, which was clearly aimed at tailor-making the advert to suit Hlaudi Motsoeneng's circumstances".
Hlaudi Motsoeneng's skyrocketing salary from R122 961 to R211 172 (63% increase) in one year, is a violation of the SABC's Personnel Regulations.
Hlaudi Motsoeneng "directly initiated the termination of the employment of Bernard Koma, Hosia Jiyane, Sello Thulo, Montlenyane Diphoko, Mapule Mbatathi and Ntswoaki Ramaphosa who participated in Hlaudi Motsoeneng's disciplinary hearing held in Bloemfontein," the Public Protector report finds.
The SABC has been asked for comment and reaction in a media enquiry made Monday morning seeking comments from the public broadcaster on the Public Protector's report. The SABC says the SABC board has to first study the report and will respond later.
ALSO READ: The SABC's matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng "unilaterally increased the salaries of certain SABC staff members, adding to the R29 million more in the salary bill.
ALSO READ: The SABC's matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng is a fraud, "pathological" SABC needs to fill permanent COO position with a suitably qualified person.
The SABC has been asked for comment and reaction in a media enquiry made Monday morning seeking comments from the public broadcaster on the Public Protector's report. The SABC says the SABC board has to first study the report and will respond later.
ALSO READ: The SABC's matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng "unilaterally increased the salaries of certain SABC staff members, adding to the R29 million more in the salary bill.
ALSO READ: The SABC's matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng is a fraud, "pathological" SABC needs to fill permanent COO position with a suitably qualified person.
