Hlaudi Motsoeneng removed as acting chief operating officer at the SABC, replaced with Mike Siluma as new acting COO.

The matric-less Hlaudi Motsoeneng has been removed as the acting chief operating officer (COO) at the SABC with immediate effect with the public broadcaster giving no reasons as to why.

The controversial Hlaudi Motsoeneng will be replaced by Mike Siluma, who is suddenly taking over at the SABC as the acting chief operating officer "until further notice" according to the SABC.

The SABC announced today that Hlaudi Motsoeneng is "released from his duties" as acting COO "as of today" Tuesday 26 February.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng will go back to being a general executive looking after provinces at the SABC. "The SABC board would like to thank Hlaudi Motsoeneng for his contribution during his time as acting chief operating officer," the SABC said in a press statement released this afternoon.

"The SABC board would like to assure the public that the process of appointing a permanent chief operating officer will be concluded once all the legal impediments that has thus far prevented them from making the appointment is resolved," says the broadcaster.