Shocked journalists turned and looked at each other with bewilderment in silent, jaw-dropping disbelief when the SABC's famously matricless chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng launched into a lecture just before the announcement of the 2014 matric results, telling the media and attendees it's important to have matric and that a matric certificate opens doors for future careers.
The minister of basic education Angie Motshekga announced the 2014 matric results on Tuesday evening which the SABC broadcast from its Aucklandpark headquarters on SABC1 and SABC News (DStv 404) and which eNCA (DStv 403) streamed online.
Just before Angie Motshekga did her speech and presentation, the SABC's matricless and controversial Hlaudi Motsoeneng left onlookers gobsmacked when he - always centre stage wherever SABC TV news cameras are nearby - publicly congratulated Angie Motshekga, saying "Minister you did well. Whether people passed or didn't pass, you did well".
With irony most likely lost on Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the South African public broadcaster's enfant terrible told shocked journalists that its very important that people make sure they get a matric certificate.
Hlaudi Motsoeneng has none, lied about having one, and lied by making up fictitious symbols for a matric certificate he knew he couldn't produce to get appointed at the SABC.
"It is important to have that paper called the [matric] certificate. What that certificate does is it opens doors for you," said Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
In February 2014 the Public Protector's final report into Hlaudi Motsoeneng found that "Hlaudi Motsoeneng should never have been appointed at the SABC" and implicated him in maladministration, corruption and mismanagement at the SABC.
According to the Public Protector's final report, Hlaudi Motsoeneng in a recorded interview admitted to lying about having a matric certificate, filled in made-up symbols in the application form and lied when he promised to provide a matric certificate to confirm the qualification and symbols when he knew he didn't have the promised certificate".
At the end of 2014 the Western Cape High Court ordered the SABC to suspend Hlaudi Motsoeneng with immediate effect following a court case - instead the SABC's lying chairwoman Ellen Zandile Tshabalala, who herself was exposed as a liar faking bogus qualifications, appointed Hlaudi Motsoeneng as the SABC's acting CEO.
