ACMChief Operating OfficerFired

Person of Interest

Hlaudi Motsoeneng

R8.2 billion

value of cases implicated in

Fired from SABC in October 2017. Public Protector found he falsified his matric qualifications, received irregular salary increases, and purged critical journalists. Ordered by courts to repay irregular bonuses including an R11 million performance bonus. Founded the African Content Movement (ACM) political party in 2019.

The Record The Evidence How This Person Hurts You Career Timeline Network The Case Files

The Record

Former SABC COO who falsified his matric qualifications and presided over the capture and financial destruction of South Africa's public broadcaster. Purged critical journalists (the "SABC 8"), imposed censorship banning protest footage, awarded himself irregular bonuses worth millions, and accumulated over R1 billion in irregular expenditure. The Zondo Commission found the SABC was used as a propaganda tool under his leadership.

The Evidence

Cases documented

Career Timeline

Period · 2013–2016

Party: ACM · Status: Fired

How This Person Hurts You

Pain points driven by the 5 case(s) Hlaudi Motsoeneng is implicated in.

Broken RoadsWhy the roads are broken Unsafe StreetsWhy you don't feel safe Sick HospitalsWhy hospitals can't help you Weak RandWhy your money buys less Failed SchoolsWhy education is failing Empty PromisesWhy no one goes to jail

Career Timeline

2012Chief Operating OfficerSouth African Broadcasting Corporation2012-01 – 2017-10appointed

Network

01Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownShielded Motsoeneng from accountability. Refused to implement Public Protector report. Zondo Commission found she actively interfered with SABC operations.

02Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownMuthambi as Minister of Communications shielded Motsoeneng from accountability and refused to implement the Public Protector's findings.

03Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownShielded Motsoeneng from accountability. Refused to implement Public Protector report. Zondo Commission found she actively interfered with SABC operations.

04Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zumapolitical patronconvictedOperated with impunity because of political protection from the Zuma administration.

05Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownShielded Motsoeneng from accountability. Refused to implement Public Protector report. Zondo Commission found she actively interfered with SABC operations.

06Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zumapolitical patronconvictedOperated with impunity because of political protection from the Zuma administration.

07Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownShielded Motsoeneng from accountability. Refused to implement Public Protector report. Zondo Commission found she actively interfered with SABC operations.

08Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownShielded Motsoeneng from accountability. Refused to implement Public Protector report. Zondo Commission found she actively interfered with SABC operations.

09Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownMuthambi as Minister of Communications shielded Motsoeneng from accountability and refused to implement the Public Protector's findings.

10Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zumapolitical patronconvictedOperated with impunity because of political protection from the Zuma administration.

11Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zumapolitical patronconvictedOperated with impunity because of political protection from the Zuma administration.

12Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownMuthambi as Minister of Communications shielded Motsoeneng from accountability and refused to implement the Public Protector's findings.

13Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zumapolitical patronconvictedOperated with impunity because of political protection from the Zuma administration.

14Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zumapolitical patronconvictedOperated with impunity because of political protection from the Zuma administration.

15Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownShielded Motsoeneng from accountability. Refused to implement Public Protector report. Zondo Commission found she actively interfered with SABC operations.

16Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zumapolitical patronconvictedOperated with impunity because of political protection from the Zuma administration.

17Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownMuthambi as Minister of Communications shielded Motsoeneng from accountability and refused to implement the Public Protector's findings.

18Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownMuthambi as Minister of Communications shielded Motsoeneng from accountability and refused to implement the Public Protector's findings.

19Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownShielded Motsoeneng from accountability. Refused to implement Public Protector report. Zondo Commission found she actively interfered with SABC operations.

20Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownMuthambi as Minister of Communications shielded Motsoeneng from accountability and refused to implement the Public Protector's findings.

21Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownShielded Motsoeneng from accountability. Refused to implement Public Protector report. Zondo Commission found she actively interfered with SABC operations.

22Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownShielded Motsoeneng from accountability. Refused to implement Public Protector report. Zondo Commission found she actively interfered with SABC operations.

23Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownMuthambi as Minister of Communications shielded Motsoeneng from accountability and refused to implement the Public Protector's findings.

24Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zumapolitical patronconvictedOperated with impunity because of political protection from the Zuma administration.

25Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownMuthambi as Minister of Communications shielded Motsoeneng from accountability and refused to implement the Public Protector's findings.

26Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownMuthambi as Minister of Communications shielded Motsoeneng from accountability and refused to implement the Public Protector's findings.

27Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownShielded Motsoeneng from accountability. Refused to implement Public Protector report. Zondo Commission found she actively interfered with SABC operations.

28Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownMuthambi as Minister of Communications shielded Motsoeneng from accountability and refused to implement the Public Protector's findings.

29Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zumapolitical patronconvictedOperated with impunity because of political protection from the Zuma administration.

30Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zumapolitical patronconvictedOperated with impunity because of political protection from the Zuma administration.

31Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownShielded Motsoeneng from accountability. Refused to implement Public Protector report. Zondo Commission found she actively interfered with SABC operations.

32Faith Muthambipolitical patronunknownMuthambi as Minister of Communications shielded Motsoeneng from accountability and refused to implement the Public Protector's findings.

Implicated In

Cases where Hlaudi Motsoeneng is documented as perpetrator, enabler, beneficiary, orchestrator, political protector, accused, or convicted.

01SABC Irregular Expenditure under Hlaudi Motsoeneng: R6.2 BillionAlleged Perpetrator2016media captureR6.2 billionAdmittedSABC COO (2012-2017). Falsified qualifications, imposed "sunshine journalism", banned protest footage, accumulated R6.2B irregular expenditure, paid himself R11.5M success fee. Constitutional Court confirmed liability in 2024.

02SABC Capture: Hlaudi Motsoeneng and the Destruction of Public BroadcastingAlleged Perpetrator2014media captureR1.0 billionNotedSABC COO who falsified qualifications, purged journalists, imposed censorship, and accumulated over R1 billion in irregular expenditure.

03MultiChoice-SABC Deal: R553 Million and Digital Migration DelayAlleged Enabler2013media captureR553 millionNotedAs Acting COO, signed the R553M deal with MultiChoice. Former SABC CEO testified Motsoeneng "served MultiChoice's interests" on digital migration. Allegedly assured MultiChoice the state would reverse its encryption policy.

04Gupta Media Propaganda Network: TNA and ANN7 — R400M+ in Taxpayer MoneyAlleged Enabler2015media captureR400 million+NotedAs SABC COO, authorised R20.3 million in TNA breakfast briefings without a signed contract. The Zondo Commission found him complicit in diverting SABC resources to benefit the Guptas' media companies.

05SABC 8: Persecution of Journalists Who Defied CensorshipAlleged Perpetrator2016media captureClearedSABC COO who issued the censorship directive banning protest footage and fired the 8 journalists who protested. His "sunshine journalism" policy created the climate of fear that led to journalist persecution.

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Implicated In

SABC Irregular Expenditure under Hlaudi Motsoeneng: R6.2 Billion

R6.2 billion

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