Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday said it had filed its application requesting that the Western Cape High Court set aside the disciplinary inquiry which cleared the SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng of any wrongdoing.
James Selfe, MP and chairperson of the DA’s Federal Executive, said the party was challenging the disciplinary inquiry “on the basis that it was fatally flawed and amounted to nothing more than a stitch-up to shield him from accountability which we contend is at odds with the remedial actions as ordered by the Public Protector”.
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Last year, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela recommended remedial action, which included a discipline hearing against Motsoeneng. But her recommendations were only acted on in October when the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled the SABC must suspend Motsoeneng and institute disciplinary action.
The SABC COO was also accused of lying about his qualifications, unilaterally increasing salaries, including his own, and unfairly dismissing employees who disagreed with him.
However, the SABC disciplinary hearing cleared Motsoeneng of any wrongdoing.
The DA said it was challenging the disciplinary inquiry because, among other anomalies, key witnesses were not called or were not available.
“To this end we also seek for the court to re-establish an independent and impartial disciplinary inquiry into Mr Motsoeneng’s fitness to hold office,” said Selfe.
He said the DA was specifically seeking an inquiry to be presided over by a new and independent person appointed by the SABC Board and not the Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi.
The DA also wants the inquiry to begin within 14 days once it gets the court order and the process, which must be open to the public should be completed within 60 days.
Selfe said the DA was seeking the suspension of Motsoeneng pending the outcome of such an inquiry.
“We submit that the original disciplinary was a farcical stitch-up job and its outcome were exactly what Mr Motsoeneng, the SABC and the Minister Muthambi, concocted from the very outset and have done everything in their power to frustrate this crucial process that has severe implications for the independence of our national broadcaster as prescribed by the constitutional precepts that this entity in enjoined by,” said Selfe.
ANA