‘Motsoeneng is abusing his power’: Vavi

South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng has not been appointed as a mother or father to decide for the public what is true and what is not true for the nation to see.

This was expressed by unionist Zwelinzima Vavi on Friday morning as he addressed about 150 people who were assembled outside the SABC offices in Auckland Park to protest against censorship by the public broadcaster.

“He is abusing his power. He tells people to turn the cameras away when they see the destruction of property‚” Vavi said of Motsoeneng.

He said that although most people were opposed to the burning of schools‚ libraries or any infrastructure‚ “we want to know what is happening in our country”.

Vavi said the Millennium Labour Council‚ of which he was chairman‚ was at the SABC to support Media Workers Association of SA members who were embarking on a strike to demand that their union be recognised by the SABC.

Vavi said they also were present to show solidarity with the “SABC Six” – three of whom were suspended last week after expressing their opposition to the SABC protest footage and the other three who face disciplinary action after stating their dissatisfaction about working conditions.

“We demand these journalists to be reinstated with immediate effect‚ unconditionally‚” Vavi said.

Vavi also demanded that the public protector’s report and remedial actions on Motsoeneng be implemented. That report‚ released in February 2014‚ recommended that the SABC board take action against Motsoeneng‚ who was then acting COO‚ for lying about his matric qualification.

Despite this report‚ he was appointed COO in July 2014.