Hlaudi Motsoeneng TV show

Hlaudi Motsoeneng / Image via Facebook

Motsoeneng dealt blow by SCA – he must repay R11.5m within a week

Motsoeneng must repay the success fee the SABC Board awarded him for clinching a controversial deal with Multichoice in 2016.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng TV show

Hlaudi Motsoeneng / Image via Facebook

Former SABC Chief Operating Officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng suffered another defeat in court when the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) dismissed with costs an application he brought to avoid returning an R11.5 million ‘success fee’ awarded to him by the SABC Board in August 2016.

MOTSOENENG SCA APPLICATION DISMISSED WITH COSTS

Motsoeneng’s hefty bonus was a reward for clinching a controversial deal with Multichoice, which gave the pay-tv giant access to the SABC archives.

 In February 2018, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) was tasked with recovering financial losses suffered by the broadcaster and Motsoneng was issued with a summons.

The Gauteng High Court reviewed the SABC Board’s decision and found that the awarding of the success fee was unlawful and invalid. Since then, Motsoeneng has been appealing against the order.

On 19 January, the SCA ruled against Motsoneng as well. Justices van der Merwe and Kathree-Setiloane dismissed the application on the grounds that there is no reasonable prospect of success in an appeal and there is no compelling reason why an appeal should be heard.

Motsoeneng must repay R11,508,549.12 within seven days of the order, with interest at the rate of 15,5% per annum calculated from 13 September 2016 to date of payment, according to the High Court ruling.

 Should he fail to pay within the stipulated period, the High Court ordered the SABC Pension Fund to pay the amount owed. If Motsoeneng’s pension does not amount to the R11 million, the entire pension proceeds will be forfeited to the broadcaster.

“The SIU welcomes the order of the Supreme Court of Appeal as it paves way for the Unit to recover the financial losses suffered by the SABC, because of unlawful and invalid decisions,” said the SIU on Wednesday, 25 January.

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