Hlaudi Motsoeneng offered staff R10,000 ‘sweetener deals’ to gain favour: DA
The Democratic Alliance says it has been is reliably informed that Hlaudi Motsoeneng has promised an extra R10,000 to staff at the SABC as part of a ‘sweetener deal’ to gain favour.
The DA said that at a meeting on Wednesday, the embattled SABC executive for corporate affairs and former chief operating officer announced to staff at the bargaining unit that “I have found a sweetener for you, Hlaudi has found an extra R10,000 for you”.
According to the political party, the payment of R10,000 will be to all staff excluding middle, senior and top management – scale code 300 and below – and is said to amount to R32 million, and would require board approval.
And this despite the broadcaster posting a net loss of R411 million over the past financial year.
Read: Hlaudi has given judicial system the finger – Maimane
“It is quite clear that this ‘sweetener deal’ is nothing but an attempt for Motsoeneng to get SABC staff on his side as a last ditch attempt to save his hide,” said DA shadow minister of communications, Phumzile Van Damme.
“Mostsoeneng should be nowhere near the SABC; never mind looting its coffers and further adding to the public broadcaster’s losses of close to half a billion last financial year.”
The Supreme Court of Appeal recently dismissed Motsoeneng’s application for leave to appeal a High Court in Cape Town ruling, which set aside his permanent appointment as COO.
The board at the SABC then moved to appoint Motsoeneng to another senior post, despite calls from the ANC to ‘rescind’ its decision.
Motsoeneng went even further by saying he would reapply to be COO of the public broadcaster when the opportunity arises – and in the meantime he will serve in his previous role as group executive of corporate affairs. “It is a given that I will apply. And I am qualified,” he said.
Motsoeneng’s re-appointment, along with the broadcaster’s financial performance led Parliament’s Portfolio Committee to conduct an inquiry into the fitness of the SABC board to hold office. That inquiry was this week postponed until later this year.
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