Hlaudi’s Censored Reign of Terror
By Jenny Reid, CEO of iFacts
July 2016
When you think of the word “Reign of Terror” what images spring to mind?
The French Revolution, Nazi Germany and The Holocaust? Or do you think
of some of the world’s most notorious dictators like Joseph Stalin, Saddam
Hussein, Idi Amin, or dare we say it, Robert Mugabe?
What about a reign of terror, which is currently playing itself out much closer to
home? The SABC’s Chief Operating Officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, is once again
back in the broadcasting spotlight for all of the wrong reasons.
Today the ANC top brass will meet at Luthuli House to discuss how to get the
SABC out of its crisis mode. Will this discussion include the fate of Motsoeneng
and the current SABC board’s future, or will we once again see, communications
minister, Faith Muthambi protecting him?
Motsoeneng’s exhaustive list of recent “achievements” include highly irregular
and random senior management appointments, editorial interference including
censorship of news, the suspension of journalists who have seemingly disobeyed
policies that change on a reportedly daily basis, and other decisions directly
linked to the sudden resignation of Acting CEO Jimi Matthews.
But Hlaudi’s been attracting the wrong kind of attention for years. As far back as
2014, the DA called for his suspension when it accused him of improper conduct,
abuse of power and maladministration. As a matter of interest, Mr Motsoeneng
has no formal education qualifications, for the job he’s doing, one which is
supposed to see the candidate have B Comm degree at the very minimum.
Once this fact was also revealed by the DA, he was famously quoted as saying: “I
qualified myself.”
The man who also gives himself a cool one million rand per year salary increase
for all of his excellent work, also seems to have many friends in high places. He
recently overruled his staff in a decision to award a R167-million contract to a
production company, which is co-owned by Gugu Zuma-Ncube. And who is the
mysterious Ms Zuma-Ncube? None other than the daughter or our president.
Apparently when Motsoeneng heard that the poorly written and sub-standard
programme had been rejected for another season by his staff, he rode in on his
white horse and demanded that the decision on the 13-part series be overturned,
and stated that the cash-strapped public broadcaster would happily air the lady’s
programme.
So it’s doubtful, that we will see the removal of the dictator of public
broadcasting anytime soon. The man who has garnered the support of EFF
leader, Julius Malema, the ANC Youth League, and no doubt the big fish himself will likely continue what has been described as his “reign of fear” for some time.
But what does this mean for the SABC and the media industry in general? Are we
simply going back towards a time when censorship was part of daily life? Are we
creating a sense of helplessness and hopelessness among young inspiring media
professionals who used to look to the public broadcaster as an opportunity to
launch their careers?
It’s another lesson for business leaders on the importance of selecting your
organisation’s senior leaders as carefully as possible. Do you want a power
hungry tyrant who makes broad-sweeping and unsubstantiated statements
followed by irrational action, or a humble and competent leader who takes
action that demonstrates strength and integrity?
While these events would seem unimaginable in other parts of the world, they’ve
become part and parcel of parastatal life in South Africa. The public sector once
again giving the privates sector a free lesson in what not to do.
Ends
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About iFacts:
iFacts removes the people risk so that organisations can go about their business with
employees they can trust. iFacts has a range of services that extend into every aspect of
proactive and reactive security activity, which a company requires for optimum employee
performance, loyalty and integrity. From people risk, ethics and integrity to safety and
security and employee wellness, iFacts offers a full range of services to both individuals and
employees that will ensure your organisation is achieving optimum performance.
Issued by Write Scene on behalf of iFacts
For Editorial Enquiries, contact:
Andrea Badenhorst
Write Scene
Mobile: 076 811 0233
Email: [email protected]
For Further information about iFacts, contact:
Jenny Reid
iFacts CEO
Mobile: 082 600 8225
Email: [email protected]
www.ifacts.co.za