PUBLIC Protector Thuli Madonsela is taking Communications Minister Faith Muthambi to court for refusing to meet her over her decision to endorse the SABC board’s decision to appoint Hlaudi Motsoeneng as the public broadcaster’s COO.In an unprecedented move, Mandonsela said yesterday that Muthambi was in contempt of her office after ignoring her subpoena over Motsoeneng’s appointment.
Madonsela said her subpoena was similar to that of a court of law in terms of the Public Protector’s Act.
Muthambi now faces a fine of R40000, or a year’s jail sentence – or even both.
In her correspondence with Muthambi, Madonsela said she laid out the consequences for failure to co-operate.
Madonsela in February found that Motsoeneng had lied about his lack of matric qualification, and his abuse of powers by increasing his salary three times in one year when he acted as COO.
The Public Protector recommended against Motseoeneng’s permanent appointment as COO and called for a qualified candidate to be appointed.
But despite this the SABC board voted in favour of Motsoeneng’s permanent appointment in July and Muthambi ratified the decision.
Muthambi yesterday denied she was refusing to meet Madonsela and insisted that she’d never received a summons.
While Madonsela and Muthambi were slugging it out over Hlaudi, the SABC board defended his appointment in court papers filed in the Cape High Court on Wednesday.
No-nonsense Thuli takes minister to court
In an unprecedented move, Mandonsela said yesterday that Muthambi was in contempt of her office after ignoring her subpoena over Motsoeneng’s appointment.
Madonsela said her subpoena was similar to that of a court of law in terms of the Public Protector’s Act.
Muthambi now faces a fine of R40000, or a year’s jail sentence – or even both.
In her correspondence with Muthambi, Madonsela said she laid out the consequences for failure to co-operate.
Madonsela in February found that Motsoeneng had lied about his lack of matric qualification, and his abuse of powers by increasing his salary three times in one year when he acted as COO.
The Public Protector recommended against Motseoeneng’s permanent appointment as COO and called for a qualified candidate to be appointed.
But despite this the SABC board voted in favour of Motsoeneng’s permanent appointment in July and Muthambi ratified the decision.
Muthambi yesterday denied she was refusing to meet Madonsela and insisted that she’d never received a summons.
While Madonsela and Muthambi were slugging it out over Hlaudi, the SABC board defended his appointment in court papers filed in the Cape High Court on Wednesday.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos