SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng at the matric announcement of the 2014 results.
SABC chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng lectured journalists and other attendees about the need to have the qualification, at the announcement of the 2014 matric results.
Speaking just before Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga released the 75.8% pass rate, Motsoeneng told guests and matriculant top achievers that matric opens doors.
“They (signalling to the top matric achievers) are the future leaders, but it is important to have that paper called [the matric] certificate. What that certificate does is; it opens doors for you.” he said.
Ignorant to the irony in his own statement, Motsoeneng failed to realise that his speech was received by audience members who are well aware of his much-publicised lack of qualifications and that doors were opened for him sans “that paper”.
Certificate scrutiny
Motsoeneng was investigated by public protector Thuli Madonsela for fraudulently misrepresenting his qualifications to the SABC.
The fake qualifications included stating that he had passed matric when applying for employment. Madonsela said these allegations of fraud were substantiated.
“By his own admission, Mr Motsoeneng stated in his application form that he had passed matric, filled in made-up symbols in the same application form, and promised to supply a matric certificate to confirm his qualifications when he knew he did not have the promised certificate, [this] was admitted by him during an interview,” the public protector said.
“Do you remember this?”
As expected, social media reacted to “Hlaudi’s holy speech” and lambasted him. Well done, Hlaudi. Great role model tendencies, and not hypocritical at all.
Unsurprisingly, Twitter was rife with criticism against Motsoeneng’s statements:
Bass D ?(@DMotsapi) questioned Motsoeneng about his qualification:
Other social media users told it like it is:
I agree with Litha Makahla (@LithaMak) – it was an awkward moment when Motsoeneng decided to talk about the importance of a matric while we are still looking for his.
That awkward moment when Hlaudi praised Angie
“Minister you did well, whether people passed or didn’t pass, you did well.” Hlaudi said.
We’re not entirely sure what this means, or whether Hlaudi really knew what he was saying either … Sounds a bit like ego-stroking, as well as a contradiction.
First, he waxes lyrical about the importance and relevance of a matric certificate, and second, he kind of renders it null and void by saying that regardless of a pass or fail, Angie did well.
Get serious
Dear Department of Basic Education, we understand that the announcement took place at the SABC, but perhaps it might be a good idea to get someone more qualified to lecture people about obtaining a matric certificate next time.