Special tribunal postpones case against Hlaudi Motsoeneng, nine other ex-SABC executives

Special Tribunal hearings in the matter between the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the SABC against former SABC acting COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng and nine other former executives have been postponed.

Two former executives were granted permission to submit late counter applications. Former group executive for commercial enterprises, Tshifiwa Mulaudzi and former general manager for operations, Nompumelelo Phasha, argued they had run out of funds due to a multitude of legal battles they are facing.

The matter relates to pay-outs of R50 000 to 53 music legends in 2016 and 2017.

The public broadcaster and the SIU want the decision to be declared unlawful and set aside. They also want Motsoeneng and the former executives to pay back monies totaling to R2.5 million.

Phasha and Mulaudzi are accused of snubbing meetings between January and April. They also allegedly failed to submit their answering affidavits in May.

Advocate Macgregor Kufa argued on behalf of the pair before judge Lebogang Modiba.

“My lady I don’t think it would be in the interest of justice to have persons who are pelted with more than five litigation matters to expect them to still be able to walk proudly to this court and say I’m still able to pursue my case against SABC when these cases have made them run out of pockets. I think you need to take judicial notice with all due respect my lady that litigation is expensive,” said Kufa.

Supplementary founding and answering affidavits, as well as heads of arguments are expected to be filed between July 27 and August 31.