Hlaudi Motsoeneng

Hlaudi Motsoeneng
Former Acting COO of the SABC Group Executive of Corporate Affairs
Personal details
Born	Puthaditjhaba Free State, South Africa or Thaba Bosiu, Lesotho

Hlaudi Motsoeneng served as the acting Chief operating officer of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) from 2011 to 2013. Motsoeneng was removed from his position as Chief operating officer after it had been found that he lied about his qualifications. After being removed as acting Chief operating officer it was announced that Motsoeneng would move back to his previous position as Group Executive Editor of Provinces and Corporate Affairs of the SABC. In December 2016, the Western Cape High Court ruled that Motsoeneng’s appointment as Group Executive was illegal and that he was “not entitled to occupy any position at the SABC”.

Early life

Motsoeneng was born in either Puthaditjhaba Free State in South Africa or Thaba Bosiu in Lesotho, where he was raised by his aunt. His mother is a sangoma. Motsoeneng went to Metsi Matsho High School, but did not matriculate.

Early career

Motsoeneng's career began in Puthaditjhaba when he met Kenneth Mopeli, then Chief Minister of the South African bantustan of QwaQwa, and became his mentor. Mopeli worked in the same office as Motsoeneng used to work. In the 1990's Motsoeneng became a freelancer and would carry around a radio bag with a mic recorder where he would get lifts with his friends to stories because he did not own a vehicle.

During this period community members alleged that Motsoeneng was a puppet used by Mopeli because not a week would go by where Motsoeneng would not broadcast a positive story about him. During this time Motsoeneng started to network with other high profile politicians.

When Motsoeneng moved with Lesedi FM to Bloemfontein he started to make contacts with African National Congress (ANC) politicians. When Motsoeneng moved to Bloemfontein he pleaded with his superiors to move him to the regional offices, he pleaded with them to give him work. Despite Motsoeneng not being able to speak English properly he went to Bloemfontein so he could be closer to the newsroom and learn more. Even though Motsoeneng did not have a matric certificate he was hired.

South African Broadcasting Corporation

Motsoeneng joined the public broadcaster in 1996, as a news reporter before being appointed as producer at radio station Lesedi FM in 1999. He was fired from his position after allegedly lying about his educational qualifications, but rejoined the broadcaster in 2011. After being back for 9 months he was appointed as Acting COO.

Motsoeneng is best known for his controversial tenure as COO of the SABC and close relationship with President Jacob Zuma. During his time at SABC Motsoeneng blocked any critical coverage of President Jacob Zuma leading the Public Protector to state that his actions threatened to entrench a culture of impunity of people in power. He was also widely known for the unusual nature of his press statements and demands on journalists working for the SABC. Often referring to himself in the third person and making non sequitur statements.

In 2014, the public protector, Thuli Madonsela released a report entitled, “When governance and ethics fail” calling for the board of the SABC to take disciplinary action against Motsoeneng for dishonesty and the misrepresentation of his qualification, abuse of power and improper conduct in the appointments and salary increments for several employees. In 2014, the Democratic Alliance brought an interim application before the Western Cape High Court calling for Motsoeneng’s suspension pending a disciplinary hearing. Motsoeneng appealed the decision, but was overuled by the Supreme Court of Appeals. In 2015, Motsoeneng was criticized for granting himself a salary increase from R2.8 million to R3.7million, despite a reported annual loss for the SABC of R395 million.

Rise within the SABC

While at the radio station met two colleagues, Sebolelo Ditlhakanyane and Sophie Mokoena. They were two of the most powerful employees at the SABC, with Mokoena at the acting political editor of television news and Ditlhakanyane as head of radio news. The three of the always worked together and made friends with ANC politicians like future Premier of Free State, Ace Magashule.

Motsoeneng also became close with the SABC chairperson, Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri who would later go on to become the Premier of Free State and later the Minister of Communication under President Thabo Mbeki. Motsoeneng became a permanent member of the SABC in 1995 at the same time Matsepe-Casaburri was the organizations chairperson.

Motsoeneng first met Jacob Zuma when Zuma made a speech in Free State before the 1994 elections. Motsoeneng went to cover the event. Zuma's speech was not well received, but Motsoeneng supported him and the two became close from then on. Motsoeneng's political-friendly relationship approach to journalism helped him rise in the ranks of the SABC and he later became executive news producer at Lesedi FM, under Norther Cape regional editor James Barkhuizen.

Interference in decisions

Motsoeneng began butting heads with Barkhuizen interfering with his decisions and challenging him openly.

In 2002, Motsoeneng was named in an forensic audit in an investigation into the conduct of a news editor in Bloemfontein. Journalists claimed that Motsoeneng was promoted to a senior position as a producer because he helped her gain her own promotion.

Motsoeneng was later accused of giving staff increases and hiring without Barkhuizen's approval. Motsoeneng faced an internal probe with allegations of racism, dishonesty, disruption of relations, intimidation and violations of SABC policies. There were at least three inquiries into the problems at the Free State office. The culminated in the 2006 inquiry by the SABC group internal audit department, and resulted in him being fired.