The SABC sustained yet another court defeat on Friday in their long-running battle to retain the services of former chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

The Democratic Alliance succeeded in fending off an attempt by the SABC to delay a hearing challenging the outcome of a disciplinary inquiry which cleared Motsoeneng of all the charges against him.

The disciplinary proceedings happened over two months at the end of 2015 after public protector Thuli Madonsela‚ in her February 2014 report on maladministration at the SABC‚ gave a directive that Motsoeneng should face charges.

DA chairman James Selfe welcomed Friday’s ruling by Judge Monde Samela‚ which he said would “ensure that Hlaudi Motsoeneng faces the music of a legitimate disciplinary inquiry — not the stitch-up previously manufactured to shield him from accountability”.

Hlaudi says he's not going anywhere

Selfe said a new disciplinary inquiry into Motsoeneng’s fitness to hold office must be held‚ and he demanded:

- A new and independent chairperson;

- Commencement within 14 days and completion within 60 days;

- Public hearings; and

- The suspension of Motsoeneng from his new SABC job as head of corporate affairs pending the inquiry’s outcome.

“The public protector’s report entitled When Governance and Ethics Fail must be thoroughly engaged given that it is the basis of the inquiry‚” said Selfe.

Madonsela also opposed the SABC attempt to delay a hearing on the DA’s application to set aside the findings of the disciplinary inquiry.

The SABC argued that the hearing should be delayed until the Pretoria High Court decided on its application to set aside the public protector’s report‚ which is still pending.

Samela said there was a public interest in ensuring that the SABC was not dysfunctional. – TMG Digital