Hlaudi Motsoeneng's appointment has been made permanent by a seven to five vote by the SABC board.
The new minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, made the announcement on SABC radio news.
Faith Muthambi said she "accepted the recommendations of the board and accordingly confirmed the appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng as the chief operations officer".
"The ministry wishes to congratulate Hlaudi Motsoeneng on his appointment and wish him well," said Faith Muthambi.
The fixed appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng as SABC COO follows days after outrage from members of parliament specifically directed at Hlaudi Motsoeneng, and after a scathing report from the Public Protector released earlier this year.
The SABC didn't suspend not fire Hlaudi Motsoeneng, although the report stated that Hlaudi Motsoeneng "should never have been appointed at the SABC".
The Public Protector in a final and scathing report on the SABC and Hlaudi Motsoeneng found that:
■ Hlaudi Motsoeneng "admitted, during his recorded interview, that he had falsified his matric qualifications".
■ Hlaudi Motsoeneng "should never have been appointed" at the SABC.
■ Hlaudi Motsoeneng was involved in 3 "irregular" salary increases from R1,5 milion per year to R2,4 million in a single year.
■ Hlaudi Motsoeneng got 3 "irregular" salary increases from R1,5 milion per year to R2,4 million in a single year.
■ Hlaudi Motsoeneng shows "a lack of ethical conduct".
■ Hlaudi Motsoeneng irregularly and rapidly increased the salaries of various staff members, resulting in the SABC's salary bill escalating by R29 million more than it should have.
■ Hlaudi Motsoeneng was "directly involved with 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".
■ Hlaudi Motsoeneng did "gross fraudulent misrepresentation of facts by declaring himself to be in possession of a matric certificate obtained at Metsimantsho High" in QwaQwa, and made up symbols for a matric certificate he knew he couldn't produce.
■ The Public Protector's final report asked that the SABC remove Hlaudi Motsoeneng by 18 May - a date which has long since lapsed.
