/ 28 September 2016

Thuli Madonsela should not abuse her power – Motsoeneng

Hlaudi Motsoeneng at the SABC briefing on Tuesday.
Hlaudi Motsoeneng at the SABC briefing on Tuesday.

Public Protector Thuli Mandosela abused her power to serve her own agenda during her investigation into former SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng, he insinuated on Tuesday.

“I respect that office of PP but I want to emphasise that people should not abuse their power when they deal with issues. Sometimes when you want to reach a certain conclusion, if there are no facts to reach that conclusion, don’t push beyond the facts,” Motsoeneng warned.

Motsoeneng was speaking after the SABC board chairperson, Professor Mbulaheni Maguvhe, announced that Motsoeneng would be heading its corporate affairs division.

Motsoeneng hinted that he had been abused during Madonsela’s investigation.

He said Madonsela’s meetings with him during her investigation were open to the public, something he said was unprecedented in a public protector’s investigation.

“The SABC is reviewing the PP. People went in my disciplinary hearing and during my disciplinary hearing most of them distanced themselves. It was a public disciplinary hearing and people said they have never been to the office of the PP. If you can go to court you will be shocked about those transcripts. Just go and do your work and check what happened on that meeting between me and PP.”

Madonsela said her office will be taking legal action against the SABC board following the appointment of Motsoeneng to a senior executive position.

“The starting point will be to find out what was the process of appointing him. Was that position vacant? What were the requirements before he was appointed to it?” she told reporters in Pretoria.

“That position would have been advertised before the previous incumbent was appointed. What were the requirements? What processes were used to determine that Mr Motsoeneng is now fit to be an executive in the SABC and to be fit for that specific position?” – News24