SABC always knew Motsoeneng had no matric

According to SABC chair Ellen Tshabalala’s responding affidavit to the Cape High Court, the broadcaster was always aware that its COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng did not have a matric qualification.

Tshabalala made the statement in response to a claim made by the DA that Motsoeneng had lied about his matric qualification when he applied for a job at the broadcaster 19 years ago.

In her affidavit, Tshabalala said: “Furthermore, according to the applicant [the DA], Mr Motsoeneng misled the SABC, to its knowledge as far back as 1995 when he was first employed.”

“An extract from Mr Motsoeneng’s interview by the public protector shows that the SABC was always aware that Mr Motsoeneng did not have matric, and knew this when it disciplined and dismissed him for other reasons in 2007 and when it later upheld his appeal against his dismissal and re-engaged him.”

“These being the facts, which the applicants is constrained to accept, then a significantly long period of time has passed in which the SABC failed to discipline Mr Motsoeneng for any alleged dishonesty, which is in any event denied.”

“The law requires disciplinary action to be taken fairly expeditiously, failing which it would become unfair to discipline an employee.”

Tshabalala ended by stating that “Mr Motsoeneng’s circumstances would make any disciplinary action regarding the issue of his matric manifestly unfair at this stage”.

Reporting with Sapa

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