Cape Town - The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Friday called for Communications Minister Faith Muthambi to be fired over her stubborn support for the SABC’s chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, who has made headlines for taking another massive pay hike from the troubled broadcaster.
It brings his annual pay package to R3.7 million.
DA communications spokesman Gavin Davis said an ANC statement criticising the increase on Thursday, was further indication that the ruling party did not share Muthambi’s stance on Motsoeneng.
“This will not be the first time the minister appears to be at odds with her own party over Hlaudi Motsoeneng,” Davis said.
He recalled that Luthuli House was “reportedly furious” when Muthambi confirmed Motsoeneng’s appointment as chief operations officer on 7 July last year.
“Then, in Parliament on 3 September this year, Muthambi publicly disagreed with the ANC’s NGC (national general council’s) discussion document that states there is a leadership crisis at the SABC,” he added.
“For too long Minister Muthambi has protected and promoted Motsoeneng because of his proximity to President Zuma.
“It was Muthambi who pressurised the SABC Board to recommend Motsoeneng for the position of COO in defiance of the Public Protector’s report. And it was Muthambi who saw to it that SABC board members who voted against Motsoeneng’s appointment were unlawfully removed from office.”
“So, if the ANC is serious about dealing with Motsoeneng, it will put pressure on President Zuma to remove Minister Muthambi from the Cabinet.”
Davis was referring to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s damning report on Motsoeneng released last year while he was still acting chief operating officer.
On Thursday, the DA filed a fresh complaint with Madonsela asking that she probe both his appointment and pay hike, which happened in a year in which the corporation suffered losses of R401 million.
African News Agency