The shocking appointment of the matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng - embroiled in multiple maladministration charges in a scathing report from South Africa's Public Protector released earlier this year which stated that "Hlaudi Motsoeneng should never have been appointed at the SABC" - seems to signal the death knell for the SABC as any kind of credible or reputable public broadcaster.
The public broadcasting pressure group, SOS Coalition, is "alarmed" by Hlaudi Motsoeneng appointment, saying the vast group - representing civil society as well as the larger majority of South Africa's TV industry - is "shocked" by his permanent appointment as COO.
"Where was the fair, transparent and public appointment process we were promised by the ministry?" says the SOS Coalition.
"The post was not advertised and, as such, no thorough recruitment process was followed". The SOS Coalition says the matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng's permanent COO appointment will "further undermine the stability and credibility of the SABC".
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela told SABC radio news that she doesn't understand what happened and why Hlaudi Motsoeneng has suddenly been appointed permanently, while she is still waiting for a response to the report issued about him earlier this year.
"I'm still waiting for a response from the SABC and from the minister. Until then, I'm not in a position to understand what has just happened".
The SABC's biggest trade union, the Broadcasting, Electronic Media and Allied Workers Union (Bemawu) says in a statement it is "shocked" by the unprocedural appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng as chief operating officer at the SABC.
Bemawu says the position was advertised more than two years ago and only internally - in January 2012.
Bemawu says it demands "that the appointment be reversed and due process be followed, failing which we will legally challenge the recruitment process".
The Democratic Alliance (DA) political party in a statement calls Hlaudi Motsoeneng's appointment as SABC COO "a dark day for democracy".
"Hlaudi Motsoeneng has been given a renewed mandate to continue his reign of terror at the public broadcaster," says Gavin Davis, the DA shadow minister of communications.
"We can expect more surveillance and purging of SABC staff, more clampdowns on editorial independence and more 'happy news' that reflects positively on the governing party".
"Hlaudi Motsoeneng should have been suspended and disciplined following the Public Protector's report, not promoted. Hlaudi Motsoeneng has earned a reputation as a Goebbels-like figure at the centre of President Jacob Zuma's propaganda machine".
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party in a statement says it is "distraught by Hlaudi Motsoeneng's appointment.
"Hlaudi Motsoeneng does not deserve to be COO, because he is a liar and a conman," says EFF member of parliament Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
The civil rights group Afriforum says in a statement the shocking appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng as SABC COO is "a further example of disrespect for the constitution and constitutional institutions that exist to protect the public against abuse of power and mismanagement".
