Hlaudi must pay for his own appeal: Cope
The Congress of the People (Cope) on Friday said it wants Hlaudi Motsoeneng to found the appeal against his suspension “in his own individual right and let him fund his own costs”. On Thursday‚ a Western Cape court upheld a Democratic Alliance (DA) application that the SABC chief operating officer be immediately suspended pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing against him.“Cope welcomes the ruling of Judge Ashton Schippers that Motsoeneng should be suspended for 60 days…This is what the public protector had recommended and that is what we support‚” Cope said in a statement.Last year‚ the DA started legal proceedings 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; and that Motsoeneng lied about his matric qualifications.The court ruled in favour of the DA in October‚ but Motsoeneng‚ the SABC and Communications Minister Faith Muthambi filed an application for leave to appeal the judgment in the Supreme Court of Appeal.On Thursday‚ Judge Schippers granted leave to appeal‚ but ruled that 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.Cope said on Friday: “Let Motsoeneng appeal in his own individual right and let him fund his own costs. Cope does not support the decision of the SABC to appeal the case. We reject that. We are totally opposed to the wasting of taxpayers’ money.”DA federal chairman James Selfe told Business Day that he was pleased with the ruling‚ saying: “This issue must be heard as quickly as possible.” They have endless pots of money and so they are able to appeal and appeal against the public protector’s findings that Mr Motsoeneng should be suspended."Majavu‚ however‚ told the newspaper that his client was paying his own way in the appeal process...
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