That's the finding of the South African Public Protector's scathing final report on maladministration, abuse of power and irregularities at the beleaguered SABC which was released on Monday morning.
The Public Protector's report found that Hlaudi Motsoeneng lied about a fake matric certificate he didn't have and should never have been appointed at the SABC.
The Public Protector also found that the SABC board is "dysfunctional" and several irregular transgressions of the Broadcasting Act as well as SABC regulations.
The Public Protector's report states that "Hlaudi Motsoeneng unilaterally increased the salaries of Sully Motsweni, Thobekile Khumalo, Hannes Du Buisson and certain freelancers without following Part IV of the SABC Personnel Regulations".
"These irregular and rapid salary progressions contributed to the public broadcaster's unprecedented salary bill escalation of R29 million," states the report.
"Hlaudi Motsoeneng's conduct in this regard was irregular and amounts to improper conduct and maladministration," states the final report.
Meanwhile 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.
"All the findings are symptomatic of pathological corporate governance deficiencies at the SABC, including failure by the SABC board to provide strategic oversight to the public broadcaster," says the Public Protector.
"Hlaudi Motsoeneng has been allowed by successive SABC boards to operate above the law, undermining the CEO among others, and causing the staff, particularly in the human resources and financial departments to engage in unlawful conduct," the report finds.
The Public Protector requests the SABC board in the report to take disciplinary action against Hlaudi Motsoeneng over his dishonesty over his misrepresentation of qualifications, abuse of power and improper conduct in appointments and salary increases, and his involvement in "purging" senior SABC staff members.
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 is a fraud, "pathological" SABC needs to fill permanent COO position with a suitably qualified person.
