Hlaudi hangs in there

28 September 2016 - 08:33 By Stephan Hofstatter

Ask Hlaudi Motsoeneng about recent court judgments against him and he'll tell you he accepts the decisions but he's still intent on becoming the SABC's chief operating officer. Ask him about his upcoming trip to a broadcasting conference in Mauritius and he'll tell you it's money well spent.But ask him about bonus payments he is said to have received and Motsoeneng goes mum."I'm not going there. We are talking about employer and employee issues," he said at a press conference yesterday where his appointment as group executive of corporate affairs at the SABC was announced.The Sunday Times reported this week that four independent sources claimed Motsoeneng was secretly paid a R10-million bonus for brokering a suspect R570-million contract with MultiChoice.Critics of the contract said it had cost the SABC R2-billion in potential revenue over five years.Asked whether he could confirm he was paid a bonus, Motsoeneng said: "Don't spoil the party."Yesterday acting CEO James Aguma announced Motsoeneng would stay on at the SABC as head of corporate affairs, where a key function would be liaising with the broadcaster's provincial offices.The post will put him in a powerful position to influence procurement spending . Procurement functions previously done at head office have been devolved to provincial managers, who will now be liaising with him.Former incumbent Bessie Tugwana, who was appointed on August 1, will move to a project management unit in Aguma's office.WATCH: Hlaudi Motsoeneng according to Hlaudi Motsoeneng Hlaudi Motsoeneng really likes speaking about himself in the third person…Last week the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed Motsoeneng's application for leave to appeal against a High Court decision that found his appointment was invalid and must be set aside.However, SABC chairman Mbulaheni Maguvhe emphasised that the High Court judgment said Motsoeneng could apply for any position at the SABC, including COO, as long as it was done lawfully.Motsoeneng said he accepted the SCA ruling but confirmed he would apply for the COO post "like any citizen" when it's advertised.Motsoeneng was in flamboyant form, promising to perform "miracles" in his new post, praising those who "recognised this wonderful person Hlaudi"."When I came here there was no SABC - everything was a disaster," he said."There is only one Hlaudi in South Africa, no one else," he said...

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