Motsoeneng appointed as GE of Corporate Affairs

The board called an urgent press briefing at the SABC's head office in Auckland Park to provide clarity on Motsoeneng's current position at the public broadcaster.

The Supreme Court of Appeal last week dismissed Motsoeneng's application for leave to appeal a High Court in Cape Town ruling, which set aside his permanent appointment as COO.

This means Motsoeneng's position as COO is invalid.

The SABC Board confirmed that Motsoeneng can again apply for the position of Chief Operations Officer (COO) when it is advertised.

The board's chairperson, Mbulaheni Maguvhe, said the SABC respects the country's courts, as well as the office of the Public Protector.

"We respect our legal institutions. Amongst them the Public Protector's office and our courts. The Public Protector wanted us, as one of the recommendations in her report, to institute a disciplinary hearing against Hlaudi Motsoeneng. We adhered to her advice. We instituted that disciplinary hearing and Motsoeneng was cleared," Maguvhe said.

Maguvhe said Motsoeneng will be returning to his former position of Group Executive of Corporate Affairs.

He, however, said Motsoeneng has every right to apply for the position of COO, which they will be advertising soon.

"I hope that when we advertise, if he so wishes, he can apply. Nothing stops him from applying. I would also like society - especially opposition parties - not to interfere with SABC processes, because they are the ones that are destabilising this organisation," he said.

Motsoeneng told the media that he will be applying for the position.

"I'm going to apply like any citizen in this county. I believe in myself. I believe that everywhere I am I perform miracles," he said.

Motsoeneng also took the opportunity to thank the board for their appreciation of him.

"When I came here there was no SABC. There was just a disaster. The role that I'm going back to...everything happens for a good reason. Maybe I am going back to fix the SABC," Motsoeneng said.