SABC reportedly dumps attorneys who cleared Hlaudi Motsoeneng of any wrongdoing

According to a report in the City Press, the SABC has dropped Mchunu Attorneys, the law firm that cleared former chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng of any wrongdoing despite the findings of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela in 2014.

Madonsela’s report found that Motsoeneng was acting chief operating officer his salary had increased from R1.5 million to R2.4 million in one year and that he had purged senior staff and misrepresented his qualifications.

The recommendation was that a new COO be appointed within 90 days. However, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi said that Motsoeneng was cleared of wrongdoing by a law firm and he was appointed to the position permanently.

Mchunu Attorneys then became the SABC’s law firm of choice and represented the public broadcaster in a number of legal matters.

However, the City Press now reports this:

City Press has seen correspondence from Mchunu Attorneys dated September 15 in which the firm informs parties involved in the Constitutional Court case that it was withdrawing from the matter.

A day later, the SABC informed the same parties of the appointment of Werkmans Attorneys as its new attorneys in the matter.

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the corporation had the right to appoint any legal representative when the need arose.