JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA DECEMBER 13: Former SABC chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng announces the formation of his new political party African Content Movement on December 13, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Motsoeneng, whose appointment at SABC COO was declared invalid, says his party will run for the 2019 national elections and that he wants to challenge President Cyril Ramaphosa for the countrys top job. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Thulani Mbele)
Zondo recommends Hlaudi Motsoeneng, Faith Muthambi be charged
Former minister Faith Muthambi and former SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng were found to have colluded with associates of the Guptas
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA DECEMBER 13: Former SABC chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng announces the formation of his new political party African Content Movement on December 13, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Motsoeneng, whose appointment at SABC COO was declared invalid, says his party will run for the 2019 national elections and that he wants to challenge President Cyril Ramaphosa for the countrys top job. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Thulani Mbele)
Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has recommended that former communications minister Faith Muthambi and former SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng face charges for their dealings with the Gupta family. In the final instalment of the State Capture Commission’s report, Zondo found that they both abused their powers and allowed for hundreds of millions of rands in taxpayers’ money to be diverted to the Guptas’ media company, TNA Media.
“It is most probable that Mr Motsoeneng’s gross abuse of power at the SABC, including diverting public resources vested in the SABC to benefit the Gupta’s rival media company, appear to have been sanction by both Ms Muthambi and [former] President Jacob Zuma,” Zondo said in the report.
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STATE CAPTURE REPORT: DAMNING FINDINGS AGAINST MUTHAMBI AND MOTSOENENG
CJ Raymond Zondo reckons there is sufficient evidence to charge Faith Muthambi with several charges under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act over her relationship with Gupta associates. He also recommended that Hlaudi Motsoeneng be prosecuted for possibly contraventioning the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
“In my opinion, her [Muthambi] said actions should be referred to the NPA if this has not yet been done. Her actions are in conflict with section 96 of the constitution as also in conflict with her office. There is also sufficient evidence on record to consider charges in terms of sections 3, 4, 7, 21, and 34 of [the] Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities [Act],” Zondo said.
Motsoeneng and Muthambi aren’t just accused of colluding with the Guptas, they are also said to have unduly interfered in the SABC’s internal affairs, including its editorial policy, which led to a Parliamentary probe back in 2016.
Motsoeneng was sacked by the SABC in June 2017, after an internal disciplinary hearing found him to having lied about his qualifications. He lost his title of chief operations officer at the SABC after a court set aside his appointment. He was found guilty of bringing the SABC into disrepute and causing irreparable damage to his employer.
Muthambi was axed in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet reshuffle in 2018.
