Supreme Court of Appeal dismisses unlawfully appointed and illegally serving SABC COO’s leave to appeal: SACP calls on the SABC to follow the rule of law

19 September 2016

The SACP notes the dismissal on Monday 19 September by the Supreme Court of Appeal, of an application by the illegally serving SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng for leave to appeal a High Court ruling setting aside his permanent appointment. The SACP maintains that Motsoeneng was appointed unfairly. Due processes were not followed. The appointment was characteristic of favouritism in the form of a job reservation of a special type exclusively benefitting Motsoeneng with any suitably qualified candidate denied an equal right to apply. As a public institution, the SABC must follow the law, applicable regulations, policies and due processes.

The best the SABC could do and must do is to remove Motsoeneng from the position to avoid further embarrassment and follow the rule of law in filling this and other positions as well as in conducting other public broadcasting affairs, administration and governance. The more the bosses who control the SABC maintain arrogance in decision-making, the more the administrative and governance decay that has been corroding the public broadcaster is exposed thus bringing the character of our democracy into disrepute to the disadvantage of the governing party, the ANC even if it may have nothing to do the problem.

Let us recall that the SABC was embroiled in negative news during the recent local government elections due to the arrogance instead of delivering uncensored public broadcasting and respecting the right of workers.   

Issued by Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo, National Spokesperson, SACP, 19 September 2016