SABC boss agrees to go on leave in face of charges

SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng has bowed to pressure on multiple fronts and taken a leave of absence with effect from yesterday afternoon.

Having sought leave to appeal against a Supreme Court of Appeal ( SCA) judgment confirming that he should face disciplinary action and be suspended until it is completed, Motsoeneng had appeared set to remain in his post until that application was decided by the Constitutional Court.

But in the face of contempt of court charges served on him and the SABC by the DA yesterday, Motsoeneng agreed to take a voluntary leave of absence.

The DA alleged that Motsoeneng’s application for leave to appeal against the suspension order was without legal basis as the SCA, in its judgment, had said the order did not meet at least two of three grounds for an appeal to be granted.

Chairman of the DA’s federal executive James Selfe said it was “vital that Mr Motsoeneng’s suspension be implemented while he is the subject of a disciplinary inquiry so that he cannot compromise the integrity of the inquiry”.

Yesterday evening, Motsoeneng’s lawyer Zola Majavu wrote to the DA after the contempt charges were served, to advise that his client had taken a voluntary leave of absence.

Motsoeneng would remain on leave until the disciplinary proceedings were completed, he said.

But Selfe said the DA would be satisfied only if the terms of Motsoeneng’s leave had the same effect as a suspension, and that the party was in discussions with the SABC and Majavu to seek an assurance in writing on this.

“Voluntary leave is not quite the same as suspension, and we want to know what the terms are of his leave, because the whole purpose of suspension is to prevent him from interfering with witnesses and manipulating information,” Selfe said.

“If it’s just like, he can phone anybody at the SABC or he can pop into his office, or download stuff from the server, then it’s a different matter.”

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said he had been with Motsoeneng yesterday morning, and was unaware of him being on leave.

“His lawyers have written a letter to their lawyer, therefore ,it’s lawyer and lawyer, that is his personal view,” Kganyago said.

The disciplinary charges served on Motsoeneng by SABC board chairman Obert Maguvhe on Monday follow the SCA judgment last week which found Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s remedial action calling for such a process had to be complied with.

Her findings followed an investigation into allegations that Motsoeneng had lied about having matric when applying for a job at the broadcaster, irregularly awarded himself and staff close to him exorbitant salary increases, and purged his opponents in the organisation, among others.

Maguvhe said the disciplinary hearing, scheduled for October 30, would be chaired by advocate William Mokhare SC.