The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) is reportedly investigating former SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng in order to recoup the money the SABC spent on his legal fees. It also wants to know about a commission Motsoeneng received from the controversial MultiChoice deal.
The Sunday Independent reported that Motsoeneng claimed the SIU’s investigation was politically motivated.
‘They have taken a view that they must deal with certain people like myself to settle political scores. This is a vendetta,’ Motsoeneng was quoted as saying.
He confirmed that he was served with a summons by the SIU in February 2018 and that the matter was now ready for court.
‘I don’t want to talk about the SIU, I want to win my battles in court, not through public opinion and newspapers,’ he added.
The SABC told Parliament in 2018 that it had spent R22 million on Motsoeneng’s legal fees.
Motsoeneng told the Zondo Commission that he received a R10m commission from the MultiChoice deal, though some industry experts believe he was paid R33m.
The SABC signed the controversial R553m deal with MultiChoice in 2013. The deal gave MultiChoice access to the SABC’s valuable archives, while SABC would broadcast a news channel on the pay-television service-provider’s DStv platform.
Industry experts believe that the value of the SABC archives is more than R1 billion.
Former communications minister Yunus Carrim also told the Zondo Commission that the MultiChoice deal was irregular and amounted to ‘policy capture’.
SIU boss Andy Mothibi told Parliament last year the unit was in the process of recovering more than R560m the SABC lost through irregular contracts. He said the SIU had identified 11 irregular contracts awarded by the public broadcaster.
‘Our investigations are allegations-based and our outcomes are evidence-based. There is no politics involved or any outside influence,’ he was quoted as saying.