BREAKING. SABC charges its controversial and matricless boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng with faking qualifications, abuse of power, dishonesty, abuse of position.

The SABC's controversial and famously matricless chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng stands accused of extreme dishonest in faking qualifications, extreme dishonesty in misleading the SABC, abuse of power as COO, abuse of position as acting COO, gross misconduct, as well as abuse of position as acting COO of allegedly firing senior staff members who had a different opinion than him.

These charges are contained in the charge sheet the SABC served on its second highest ranking executive who has to appear at a disciplinary hearing on 30 October.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng has not been suspended pending the disciplinary hearing - the issue of contention and the crux of just one of the protracted court cases against him - yet on Friday he has suddenly placed himself on "voluntary leave".

The minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, has appointed Sandile July from Werksmans Attorneys to initiate the disciplinary proceedings against Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

The disciplinary proceedings which is set for 30 October will be chaired by advocate William Mokhare SC.

According to Hlaudi Motsoeneng's disciplinary hearing charge sheet, signed by the SABC chairperson prof. Mbulaheni Obert Maguvhe, informs Hlaudi Motsoeneng that if he is found guilty "strong action [can] be taken against you, which may include your dismissal".

Hlaudi Motsoeneng is charged with:

1.Gross dishonesty alternatively misrepresentation in that:

The SABC records show that you commenced employment at the SABC on or about 1 March 1995 as a trainee journalist. When you applied for the position (trainee journalist), you completed an application form. 

In the application form you completed you recorded that you had passed standard 10 at age 23 with the following subjects: English E, South Sotho E, Afrikaans E, Bibs E, and History F.

You were appointed to the above-mentioned position on the basis that you had passed standard 10 as indicated on your application form.

You continued to make the same claim and representation in your subsequent applications for employment at the SABC.

It is alleged that you misrepresented the facts relating to your qualifications in that you did not possess the standard 10 you alleged to have passed in your application form. 

You knew that the representation made in your application form was not true, yet you proceeded and made it nonetheless.

2.Gross dishonesty in that:

In 2003 you applied for the position of executive producer: current affairs with the SABC. In your CV which was part of the application,you stated that you were at some stage "appointed as head of communications at the department of tourism and economical affairs in Northern Cape".

Upon investigation,it was established that the above representation you made in your CV was not true. It is alleged that you were never employed at the aforesaid department. You accordingly misled the SABC into believing that you were once employed at the Department of Tourism in the Northern Cape.

3.Abuse of power, alternatively gross negligence in that:

Sometime during 2011 the position of chief finance officer (CFO) became vacant at the SABC.

It is alleged that you together with other members of the selection panel violated the prescripts of the recruitment and selection policy in appointing Gugu Duda after the initial interview process. Msulwa Daca was never appointed to the position despite being the recommended candidate.

It is alleged that you together with other members of the selection panel violated the prescripts of the recruitment and selection policy in appointing Gugu Duda after the initial interview process. Gugu Duda never even applied for the position in question. It is alleged that you instructed the SABC Human Resources to accept the CV of Gugu Duda notwithstanding the fact that it was submitted after the interviews were concluded.

Notwithstanding that Gugu Duda never applied for the position in question and was never shortlisted,you nevertheless interviewed her. Upon being interviewed, it was established that Gugu Duda ranked the second lowest in the list of interviewed candidates. You proceeded to recommend her for appointment. 

It is alleged that you have abused your position as acting chief operating officer in this regard; alternatively you were grossly negligent in executing your obligations in relation to this appointment.

4.Gross misconduct in that:

On 1 February 2012 you transferred Ms Motsweni from the position of general manager: compliance to the position: head: monitoring, compliance and operation services. This is a new position , which you created.You offered her a fixed term contract for the duration of 5 years at R1.5 million.

It is alleged that this position was never advertised either internally or externally, as required by the SABC recruitment and selection policy. It is further alleged that there was no interview process conducted.

5.Abuse of position in that:

It is alleged that during your tenure as acting COO, you unfairly dismissed senior staff members of the SABC for differing in opinion with you. 

It is alleged that you directly initiated the dismissal or termination of employment of the following individuals: Bernard Koma, Hosia Jiyane, Sello Thulo, Montlenyane Diphoko, Mapule Mbalathi and Ntswoaki Ramaphosa.

6.Gross misconduct in that:

You unilaterally increased your salary and those of Ms Motsweni, Thobeka Khumalo contrary to the provisions of Part IV of the SABC personnel regulations.

Your actions in this regard constituted unauthorised expenditure in terms of section 1 of the Public Finance Management Act.

James Aguma appointed as the SABC's permanent new chief financial officer (CFO) after acting in the position for a year.

The SABC has appointed James Aguma as the South African public broadcaster's permanent new chief financial officer (CFO) after he has been acting in the position since Gugu Duda was fired.

James Aguma, a chartered accountant, has been the acting CFO of the SABC since March 2014 after Gugu Duda was suspended in September 2012 in connection with procurement and financial irregularities.

James Aguma previously headed up the SABC's strategy and audit matters.

"We believe with this appointment there will be continuity as we further stabilise and bring more revenue for the organisation," says Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the SABC's chief operating officer (COO), in a statement.

SABC advertises for new CEO and chief financial officer (CFO) positions; promises 'a highly competitive package with attractive incentives'.

The SABC is advertising the position for a new CEO for the beleaguered South African public broadcasting, as well as for a new permanent chief financial officer (CFO) following a protracted and acrimonious executive battle behind the scenes.

Lulama Mokhobo quit in February as the umpteenth SABC CEO to suddenly up and leave and not finish a CEO contract, without the SABC giving reasons as a public broadcaster.

In March the SABC fired Gugu Duda as acting CFO. She was suspended in September 2012 at the SABC in relation to procurement and financial irregularities.

Now the SABC is looking for a replacement for both positions.

While the SABC's second highest executive in charge, the acting chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng is famously matricless - and according to a damning Public Protector's report released in February "should never have been appointed at the SABC" - the SABC states as a "prerequisite" that the CEO must have a postgraduate degree, preferably "MBA/MSc or similar equivalent experience".

The SABC CEO must be "a strategic leader, visionary, mentor and coach, as well as a good problem solver". "Knowledge of the media industry will be a major advantage," says the SABC and at least 10 years senior management experience is required.

The SABC promises "a highly competitive package with attractive incentives".

For the CFO position the SABC says the broadcaster "is experiencing a slow but steady economic recovery, but will continue to be challenged in meeting ongoing demands placed on it by the public mandate and the demandsof migrating to digital broadcasting".

The new CFO will have to therefore "provide progressive leadership, excellent financial skills and strong administration capabilities".

"The new CFO will need to initiate creative ways of funding the strategy of the corporation" and will have to work with the CEO and COO in finding new funding opportunities.

The closing date is 12 May.

SABC fires Gugu Duda as acting chief financial officer - replaced with James Aguma; Tian Olivier is the new acting CEO as stop-gap measure.

The spate of dismissals and firings of top executives seen the past half a decade at the SABC continues as a running theme at the South African public broadcaster which summarily fired its acting chief financial officer Gugu Duda and replaced her with James Aguma.

After Lulama Mokhobo dumped the SABC as CEO in February after finishing just two years of her five year contract and after the SABC couldn't say who the new acting CEO is since March, Tian Olivier (pictured) is now the acting CEO as a stop-gap measure at the broadcaster.

Since 2008 the SABC's senior management has been in a constant state of unstable flux, with senior executives constantly being hired and fired at top level, including resignations, dismissals, draw-out labour court disputes and multi-million rand payouts by the SABC due to unfair dismissals, golden handshakes and to simply get rid of former executives after relationships turned acrimonious.

A new year at the SABC means new executives and new executives in acting positions.

The SABC has not yet advertised the position of chief financial officer for a permanent replacement (with the famously matricless Hlaudli Motsoeneng in the position) - a position which has not been filled by the SABC since 2006 and for the past seven years.

However James Aguma now assumes the position of acting CFO. He is an Ugandan chartered accountant.

Gugu Duda, a chartered accountant, has been dismissed and sent packing on Wednesday. She was suspended in September 2012 at the SABC in relation to procurement and financial irregularities.

Tian Olivier has himself been the acting chief financial officer at the SABC before. James Aguma joined the SABC in 2013 as the general manager for strategy and governance in Hlaudi Motsoeneng's office.

Tian Olivier has also been the head of audience services at the SABC. "It is imperative that at this stage we provide support to the two acting executives who have just been appointed," says Ellen Tshabala, the SABC board chairperson in a statement. 

SABC pays news head Phil Molefe R2,2 million to stay home for a year after being suspended; suspended CFO paid R1,5 million.

Exactly a year after he was placed on "special leave" in April 2012 by the SABC pending a disciplinary hearing which constantly got postponed, the SABC's head of news and current affairs Phil Molefe got R2,2 million to stay at home.

Meanwhile the SABC payed its suspended chief financial officer Gugu Duda R1,5 million as well.

The minister of communications, Dina Pule, told parliament's portfolio committee on communications on Wednesday that Phil Molefe got full benefits and was paid R2,278 million to effectively stay home and do nothing.

Gugu Duda got R1,563 million.

BREAKING. Dali Mpofu, former SABC CEO, stabbed and robbed; in serious but stable condition in hospital.

Dali Mpofu, a former SABC CEO, has been stabbed during a robbery attack in East London and is currently in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Dali Mpofu - an advocate who has represented several other SABC employees such as the SABC's suspended chief financial officer (CFO) Gugu Duda as well as the "indefinitely on long, special leave" head of news and current affairs Phil Molefe last year in legal and court proceedings - is also representing the injured miners who were involved in the Marikana Massacre in front of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry.

Dali Mpofu was mugged and stabbed on Thursday afternoon at Eastern Beach in East London by two attackers who took his personal belongings like his cellphone, according to the police.

Dali Mpofu was rushed to hospital with stab wounds in his upper and lower body and is currently in a serious but stable condition.

Dali Mpofu was axed as SABC CEO in January 2009; in August of that year after a drawn-out battle, the SABC agreed on a golden handshake of R11 million for him to walk away from the public broadcaster and to withdraw all legal action against the SABC.

SABC to advertise the position of chief operating officer (COO), currently held by the matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng, on Sunday.

The SABC's position for chief operating officer (COO) currently filled by Hlaudi Motsoeneng will be advertised on Sunday while the disciplinary hearing for the SABC's suspended chief financial officer Gugu Duda will be taking place later this month.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng has been appointed in the position as chief operating officer in a temporary acting capacity although he doesn't have matric and never passed Grade 12. The disciplinary hearing for the SABC's suspended chief financial officer Gugu Duda will be taking place in February with five days set aside for the hearing.

ALSO READ: "Now is the time for SABC to work very hard to double our efforts," says acting COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

At a hastily-arranged press conference on Friday afternoon at the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters, the SABC's deputy chairperson Thami Ka Plaatjie said that the position of chief operating officer (COO) will be advertised on Sunday after a drawn-out legal battle with the former SABC executive Mvuzo Mbebe had now been settled.

Mvuzo Mbebe took the SABC board to court and applied for an interdict at the South Gauteng High Court after he was recommended for the position of chief operating officer in July 2007 by the then SABC chairperson Eddie Funde, but never got the job.

Meanwhile Gugu Duda's disciplinary hearing will be taking place over the course of a whole week in February, she was immediately suspended in September 2012 because of alleged irregular procurement actions allegedly relating to sponsorship deals.

Tian Olivier is currently the acting chief financial officer of the SABC.

Thami Ka Plaatjie said at the press conference that the SABC which got close to the cliff of financial collapse in 2009 and was granted a government bailout of R1,47 billion in the form of a government guaranteed loan from Nedbank, is not in a sound financial position yet.

Thami Ka Plaatjie said that the SABC failed to meet all of the conditions of the government guarantee in exchange for the billion rand bailout.

"We must not fool ourselves. This doesn't mean that we've met all the conditions of the government guarantee," said Thami Ka Plaatjie.

The SABC announced that it had payed back another R416 million of the government bailout of R1,47 billion the struggling broadcaster received in 2009. The SABC now still owes R230 million on the government guaranteed loan to Nedbank.

BREAKING. Charges drawn up; disciplinary hearing 'imminent' against SABC's suspended chief financial officer, Gugu Duda.

Charges are being drawn up against the SABC's suspended chief financial officer (CFO) Gugu Duda and according to the SABC a disciplinary hearing "is imminent".

Gugu Duda was suddenly suspended mid-September on charges

appointed from March this year as the beleaguered SABC's permanent new CFO, when she replaced Robin Nicholson and took over from the acting CFO, Lerato Nage (now resigned).

The SABC board told parliament in September that Gugu Duda was allegedly responsible for financial irregularities.

The SABC now tells me that the forensic attorneys who have been investigating Gugu Duda presented their report to the SABC board this week. "Currently charges are being drawn up against her and a disciplinary hearing is imminent," says the SABC.

BREAKING. SABC IN CRISIS: Public broadcaster immediately suspends Gugu Duda, its chief financial officer after emergency board meeting.

A BROADCASTER IN CRISIS: THE SABC JUST SUSPENDED GUGU DUDA, THE SABC'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOLLOWING AN EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE SABC BOARD TODAY.

Massive upheaval is shaking South Africa's public broadcaster with the SABC facing a barrage of crises on multiple fronts - boiling forth from its news room and multiple allegations of political news bias and interference, and reaching all the way up to the upper echelons of its Auckland Park headquarters where major top-level executive management turmoil is once again shaking the beleaguered SABC to its inner core.

"The board of the South African broadcasting corporation met in an emergency meeting today," the SABC says in a just-issued press statement. "The SABC board has resolved to suspend the chief financial officer, Gugu Duda, with immediate effect."

The SABC confirms that the acting head of procurement Nopilo Dlamini has already been suspended last week.

The SABC's CEO Lulama Mokhobo revealed on Tuesday in parliament that Gugu Duda would be served with a letter on Wednesday demanding she give reasons why she should NOT be immediately suspended.

Yesterday Gugu Duda, now represented by lawyer Dali Mpofu, received her letter demanding she explain why she should not be placed on immediate suspension.

"Because the external investigation implicates the chief financial officer, the SABC board asked the chief financial officer in writing to advise why any action should not be taken against her," says the SABC in the statement. "She refused to sign this letter and instead presented the SABC board with a lawyer's letter."

"In the second investigation by the SABC's internal audit department, further and additional information came to the attention of the SABC board today. The board believes the information is sufficient to confirm its decision to suspend her," says the SABC.

"In line with principles of fairness and good labour practice, we appeal to the public to allow the board to complete these processes in accordance with the law."

BREAKING. Gugu Duda, the SABC's chief financial officer, gets her letter demanding she explain why she should NOT be suspended.

Gugu Duda, the chief financial officer (CFO) of the SABC has received her letter from the struggling public broadcaster's top executive today demanding that she provide reasons as to why she should not be suspended with immediate effect.

Gugu Duda, appointed from March this year as the beleaguered SABC's permanent new CFO, when she replaced Robin Nicholson and took over from the acting CFO, Lerato Nage (now resigned). Gugu Duda now has to explain - if she wants to - why she should remain in her job at the troubled public broadcaster and not be dragged before a disciplinary committee.

It's understood that there's problems within the SABC's procurement section - the SABC's acting head of procurement, Nopilo Dlamini was already suspended last week. The SABC board told parliament's portfolio committee on communications on Tuesday that Gugu Duda was allegedly responsible for financial irregularities.

The SABC's CEO, Lulama Mokhobo told parliament on Tuesday that Gugu Duda is to receive a letter on Wednesday in which Gugu Duda has to give reasons as to why she should not be suspended immediately.

It's been confirmed that Gugu Duda has now received that letter today. Interestingly, Gugu Duda is being represented by the former SABC CEO, advocate Dali Mpofu.

Dali Mpofu's name also came up as the representative of Phil Molefe - another person of interest at the SABC in another unrelated matter at the public broadcaster. Phil Molefe, the SABC's head of news and current affairs has been on special leave now for five months and counting since April, when he was sent on leave awaiting a disciplinary hearing which constantly gets postponed.


ALSO READ: Crises at the SABC! Embattled public broadcaster once again mired in executive management turmoil and high-level suspensions.
ALSO READ: SABC blasted for "half-cooked" skills audit; tardiness about implementing the auditor-general's recommendations over corruption.
ALSO READ: SABC headquarters once again besieged - protest march from the IFP coming to the SABC on Friday; trade union Mwasa planning public picketing on Wednesday.

BREAKING. CRISIS AT THE SABC! Embattled public broadcaster once again mired in executive management turmoil and high-level suspensions.

Crisis has once again engulfed the embattled South African public broadcaster with the group chief financial officer (CFO) Gugu Duda who will receive a letter today asking her to give reasons as to why she shouldn't be suspended; while the SABC has already suspended its acting head of procurement Nompilo Dlamini. 

Meanwhile the chairperson of the SABC board dr Ben Ngubane admitted to parliament that the SABC board has "degenerated into serious dysfunctionality" as the SABC tries to get rid of a SABC board member besides the two senior SABC management executives.

The SABC board wants board member Cawekazi Mahlati suspended after a vote of no confidence as the SABC has to prepare for multiple public mass demonstrations - first the Inkatha Freedom Party which is planning a protest march against the SABC this Friday, and then the trade union Mwasa which plans public picketing at the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters this coming Wednesday.

The SABC board told parliament on Tuesday that Gugu Duda was allegedly responsible for financial irregularities. That comes as parliament's portfolio committee for communications yesterday blasted the South African public broadcaster for what it called the SABC's "half-cooked" skills audit and heaped scorn on the SABC's apparent tardiness to implement the multiple findings of the auditor-general's recommendations which found widespread corruption at the beleaguered corporation in 2009.

The SABC also revealed that Nompilo Dlamini, the acting head of procurement was suspended last week. The SABC's CEO, Lulama Mokhobo told parliament that Gugu Duda is to receive a letter today in which she has to give reasons as to why she should not be suspended immediately.

The SABC board has been ordered back to parliament this coming Tuesday, 18 September, to face a further grilling on the ongoing instability at the public broadcaster. The SABC has not responded to media enquiries made on Wednesday morning.


ALSO READ: SABC board has "degenerated into serious dysfunctionality" SABC baord chairperson dr Ben Ngubane tells parliament.
ALSO READ: SABC blasted for "half-cooked" audit skills audit and tardiness about implementing the aiditor-general's recommendations after corruption.
ALSO READ: Beleaguered SABC headquarters once again besieged - public protest march of the IFP coming on Friday to the SABC's doors; trade union Mwasa picketing publicly on Monday.
ALSO READ: After being muzzled by the SABC, the former ANC Youth leader Julius Malema is interviewed on CNN International.

BREAKING. SABC CEO Lulama Mokhobo and chief financial officer investigated by board for spending R3 million on ICT Indaba - report

The SABC's CEO Lulama Mokhobo and the SABC's chief financial officer Gugu Duda are being investigated by the SABC board for okay-ing the spending of R3 million as a sponsorship of the department of communications' ICT Indaba in July, the Sunday Independent reports.

The SABC paid R1 million in cash and R2 million in a trade exchange for the ICT Indaba in Cape Town organised by the minister of communications Dina Pule, around which allegations of improper and conflict of interest matters have been swirling. The ICT Indaba cost R36 million.

The Sunday Independent quotes two unnamed SABC board members saying that the SABC board is "incensed" by Lulama Mokhobo and Gugu Duda's "donation".

The SABC borrowed R1,47 billion from the government in a government guaranteed loan from Nedbank in 2009, R1 billion of which the SABC has used for a drastic turnaround strategy and haven't yet paid back.

The newspaper quotes an SABC board member saying that the spending "did not have board approval". The SABC's spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago is quoted in the article as saying that Lulama Mokhobo and Gugu Duda didn't need SABC board approval to make the R3 million sponsorship of the ICT Indaba.

The SABC board member Thami Ka Plaatjie and deputy chairperson is reportedly in charge of investigating Lulama Mokhobo and Gugu Duda and the R3 million sponsorship.

BREAKING. Gugu Duda appointed as the new permanent chief financial officer at the SABC.

Gugu Duda has been appointed as the new permanent chief financial officer (CFO) at the SABC.

The struggling South African public broadcaster has been battling to fill several top key executive positions who've been long vacant and have been filled by acting executives.

Gugu Duda's appointment will come into effect on 1 March this year and is for the regular five year period.

Gugu Duda, a chartered accountant, was previously the CFO for internet at telephone banking at First National Bank (FNB). She left to join Wipcapital as executive investment manager, before departing for AngloGold Ashanti to take up the position of vice president for strategy and risk integration for continental Africa.