SABC boss fighting for survival

24 April 2015 - 02:01 By Philani Nombembe

For a brief moment yesterday it looked as if embattled SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng was to be suspended. Then, a few moments later, he appealed the Cape Town High Court ruling that ordered his suspension. His new appeal means his suspension cannot be effected until the appeal to the Supreme Court in Bloemfontein is dealt with.Last year the Democratic Alliance (DA) started legal proceedings in the high court to compel the SABC to implement Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's recommendations that action be taken against Motsoeneng.In February last year Madonsela found Motsoeneng had abused his power and increased his salary from R1.5-million to R2.4-million within one year as acting chief operating officer.Madonsela also found that Motsoeneng lied about his matric qualifications, irregularly pushed up salaries of various staff members and bloated the SABC's salary bill.The court ruled in favour of the DA in October. However Motsoeneng, the SABC and Communications Minister Faith Muthambi filed an application for leave to appeal the judgment in the Supreme Court of Appeal.Yesterday Judge Ashton Schippers granted leave to appeal, but ruled that Mr Motsoeneng be suspended pending the appeal. Straight after the ruling Motsoeneng's lawyer, Zola Majavu, said he would appeal the judgment and Motsoeneng would be back at work as soon as he filed court papers...

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