On 12 October the SABC started disciplinary action against the controversial and famously matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng who the Public Protector in a scathing report in February 2014 found to be involved in maladministration, improper conduct, alleged abuse of power at the SABC and for lying about qualifications he knew he didn't have.
Despite the report the SABC appointed Hlaudi Motsoeneng as COO at the SABC permanently. The position was not advertised, nor were other candidates considered.
Despite the report and protracted court cases the SABC and the SABC board failed to suspend Hlaudi Motsoeneng and start a disciplinary hearing - until now.
Hlaudi Motsoeneng has been given notice to attend a disciplinary hearing at the end of October. The specific charges are not yet known.
It's not clear why the SABC has not suspended a high-ranking executive like Hlaudi Motsoeneng if he is to have a disciplinary hearing, nor how the SABC can ensure that such a disciplinary hearing remains untainted if the person stays at work.
In a court affidavit for another court case Hlaudi Motsoeneng is involved in - the so-called "B part" of the protracted court battle he, the SABC and the minister of communications, Faith Muthambi, are embroiled in to keep him from being suspended or removed from his COO position - Hlaudi Motsoeneng argues that "My dignity will be severely prejudiced if I am pre-emptively suspended and prevented from carrying out my functions as COO and as an employee of the SABC."
"It will create an impression in the eyes of the public that I am already guilty of the charges that are to be instituted against me".
According to News24, SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said on Wednesday that the SABC will not divulge the charges against Hlaudi Motsoeneng as the matter is "between employer and employee".
