Thuli-Faith spat gets ugly

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela will take Communications Minister Faith Muthambi to court.

Madonsela said she had subpoenaed Muthambi to explain why she had endorsed Hlaudi Motsoeneng's appointment as the SABC' s chief operations officer. She said the minister had twice refused to meet her.

Madonsela said yesterday that Muthambi was in contempt of her office.

Madonsela said that, in terms of the Public Protector Act, her subpoena was as legally binding as a court subpoena.

Said Madonsela: "We have decided to pursue it through the courts as it is a criminal matter."

If convicted, Muthambi faces a R40000 fine or being sentenced to a year in jail, or both.

Madonsela said she had twice written to Muthambi, asking for a meeting.

And twice, said Madonsela, Muthambi has rejected the meeting, saying she was "not going to debate [the issue]".

Madonsela said that in both letters she had informed Muthambi ab out the consequences of failing to cooperate.

Madonsela in February found that Motsoeneng had lied about passing matric, and that he had also abused his powers when he inflated his salary thrice in one year.

Madonsela recommended that a qualified candidate be appointed to the COO post - but the SABC board voted in favour of Motsoeneng's permanent appointment in July and Muthambi ratified the decision.

Muthambi yesterday denied receiving a summons from Madonsela, saying she would meet her "at an appropriate time".

On Wednesday, the SABC board filed court papers in the Cape Town High Court.

The papers defended Motsoeneng's appointment and said he had never lied about his lack of matric.

Madonsela disputed this, saying she had an audio recording of Motsoeneng himself telling her: "Yes, I lied. Yes, I put in those symbols."

She added: "Somebody advised him to do so because the job required matric. I don't know what more [evidence of deceit] anyone would need."