Hlaudi Motsoeneng TV show

Hlaudi Motsoeneng / Image via Facebook

State Capture Inquiry: Hlaudi Motsoeneng stumbles on Matric question

The former SABC COO went on the defense when probed about his Matric qualification.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng TV show

Hlaudi Motsoeneng / Image via Facebook

Former SABC COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng appeared before the State Capture Inquiry and it has already been entertaining to watch.

State Capture Inquiry: Why is Hlaudi Motsoeneng testifying?

The appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng to one of the highest positions at SABC has always been a subject of a hotly-contested debate.

FIndings by former Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, on the irregularity of Motsoeneng’s appointment at the public broadcaster further exacerbated claims that he was never fit to hold such a high position.

However, surprisingly, former SABC Board chairperson, Ben Ngubane, told the inquiry, on Monday, that contrary to popular belief, Motsoeneng was the perfect person for the job.

He defended the former SABC COO’s educational background, stating that Motsoeneng’s lack of a matric certificate was no hindrance to his ability to perform as well as he claims he did.

Motsoeneng stumbles on matric question

At the inquiry, a vibrant Motsoeneng echoed these sentiments. The former SABC COO started things off on a high note. He tried to explain the misunderstanding in the issue surrounding his job application at the public broadcaster and the part where he had indicated that he obtained his matric, when in fact, he never did.

Motsoeneng said he was insulted by claims that he defrauded the public broadcaster with false information on his qualifications when it was SABC that headhunted him in 1995.

“They approached me. I agreed to join SABC permanently. So, in 1995 I was headhunted, and I want to deal with the issue chairperson, which for me, it is an insult… for people to say that I have lied about my Matric,” he said.

He claimed that, contrary to the “lies” that have been told by people, including Madonsela, he had declared that he did not have Matric.

According to Motsoeneng, the qualification issue was overlooked because of his talents.

“Before I joined SABC permanently, they took me to a course to go and learn about broadcasting. Normally, SABC they don’t take a freelancer to go and train a freelancer. It has never happened in the history of the SABC. I am the first person to be taken,” he claimed.

When probed about the shoddy details he noted in the application, Motsoeneng denied that he filled in the symbols that falsely indicated that he had passed Matric.

Instead, he chalked the blame up to a woman who, at this time, is only known as Marie Swanepoel.

The former SABC COO’s testimony will resume at 14:00, once the inquiry returns from lunch.