FORMER SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng won’t have to pay the SABC back R2,5 million.
On Tuesday, 18 October, the Special Investigation Tribunal found that although his 2016 decision to make a once-off payment of R50 000 to more than 50 music legends was unlawful, the period in which it could be demanded back had lapsed.
Judge Lebogang Modiba said as the payments were made more than five years ago, the public broadcaster would have to take the loss.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and SABC sought an order that Motsoeneng and his co-respondents, former SABC chief financial officer Audrey Raphela and former acting group CEO James Aguma, pay back the R2,5 million.
The legends who benefitted included Abigail Kubeka, Blondie Makhene, Mara Louw and the late Steve Kekana, for their role in the anti-apartheid struggle.
The SABC spent R12,5 million on the project.
The matter came to light in 2017 after the appointment of a new SABC board, that launched an investigation and referred the matter to the SIU. .
In January last year, the crime-busting organisation brought the application before the tribunal.
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It accused the three executives of acting against the SABC’s internal policies, and being reckless and negligent in the performance of their duties.
The unit alleged that the payments were not approved by the board, which was responsible for approving annual budgets and operational plans.
Motsoeneng, Raphela and Aguma contended that the application was inappropriate as they were not acting in a personal capacity, and the matter did not fall under the mandate of the investigating unit.
