By: Zinhle Mngadi

This week, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela released a shocking report that the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Chief Operations Officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng was dishonest in the qualifications he produced to occupy the top position.

This follows after Madonsela released a report on Monday called “When governance and ethics fail” where she disclosed to the media that Motsoeneng does not have a grade twelve matric certificate, and that he “unlawfully hiked his salary from 1.5 million per annum to 2.4 million per annum last year.

Motsoeneng’s appointment was found to be irregular by the public protector’s office. Madonsela has required that all monies lost in this scandal be recovered and that the SABC’s advisory board take disciplinary action against Motsoeneng and all those implicated which include the former Minister of Communications Dina Pule.

“The board should take disciplinary action against Mr Motsoeneng for his dishonesty relating to the misrepresentation of his qualification, abuse of power and improper conduct in the appointments and salary increments of Ms Sully Motsweni [SABC head of compliance and acting group executive],” said Madonsela.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng, acting Chief Operations Officer at the SABC. Picyures from SABC

The situation of overpaid and under qualified personnel in the country has become a constant occurrence. In October last year, KwaZulu-Natal top police spokesperson was fired on fraud charges. Investigations found that he produced a fake matric certificate to get the top police position.

Communications Minister Yunus Carrim has received the public protector’s report and will study it with the lawyers before taking further steps according to his spokesperson Siyabulela Qoza.