DA to seek order of contempt if effect not given to Motsoeneng suspension order

13 October 2015

The DA will tomorrow approach the Court seeking an order holding the SABC in contempt of Court for not implementing the suspension of its Chief Operating Officer (COO), Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

Following last week’s Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgement it became incumbent upon the SABC to immediately implement the suspension of Mr Motsoeneng.  They have clearly failed to do so which is a flagrant contempt of Court and is the latest demonstration that the ANC in government have absolutely no regard for the Rule of Law and due process.

Indeed the SABC was compelled by the Court to institute the disciplinary proceedings as is ordered by the Public Protector. The disciplinary proceedings, as appears from the Application for leave to appeal the judgment served today, was instituted on 12 October 2015 with a hearing scheduled on 30 October 2015. Mr Motsoeneng, despite being suspended was however not implemented.

The DA, through its legal counsel, has written to the SABC stipulating that should it fail to give effect to the suspension of Mr Motsoeneng by 14:00 tomorrow, as is consistent with the Public Protector’s findings and the subsequent dictates outlined in the SCA judgement, we will not hesitate to make the SABC comply with law, order and due process.

Statement issued by James Selfe MP, Chairperson of the DA's Federal Executive, 13 October 2015