Suspended SABC boss wants his day on TV

15 October 2015 - 02:19 By Philani Nombembe

SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng wants the disciplinary inquiry into his alleged misdemeanours to be broadcast on live television. His lawyer Zola Majavu said this would present South Africans with the chance to hear an undistorted version of events surrounding his situation.The Cape Town High Court reserved judgment yesterday in the DA's application to have Motsoeneng's appointment set aside.Last week the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that Motsoeneng be suspended and disciplinary action taken against him.Public Protector Thuli Madonsela had found Motsoeneng, then the acting chief operating officer, had abused his powers, irregularly increased his own salary and misrepresented his qualifications. Even so he was appointed permanently to the position."He will attend a disciplinary inquiry when he is called upon to do so," said Majavu, "and he has indicated he would have no difficulty if those proceedings are televised live. I think that will afford South Africans the chance to hear first-hand what really happened."Motsoeneng, the SABC and Communications Minister Faith Muthambi are defending the court action. Motsoeneng has taken the SCA ruling on appeal to the Constitutional Court.James Selfe, the DA's federal executive chairman, said his party would launch an urgent court application today to find Motsoeneng, the SABC and Muthambi in contempt of court for not implementing the SCA ruling."We believe there was a very clear instruction by the SCA, that the SABC only implemented part of it and we believe that constitutes contempt," said Selfe.Millions of rand of taxpayers' money is believed to have been spent by the SABC and Muthambi on defending Motsoeneng. Selfe said the DA had spent up to R2-million on lawyers so far...

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