The Mercury reports that the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) wants the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to claim more than just R10-million from its former operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, for the damage he did at the public broadcaster.  

In papers filed in the Gauteng High Court, Outa has applied to be amicus curiae (friends of the court) in the SABC’s case against Motsoeneng.  The SABC has launched legal action to prevent Motsoeneng from being paid out his pension benefits, claiming that it is owed R10.2m, alternatively R11.5m due to unlawful actions.  But Outa, in its court papers, argues that the claims are too limited and do not take into account the findings of the Public Protector’s report four years ago.  It also points out that according to pension fund legislation, pension benefits can only be withheld if a judgment has been granted against the employee for damages occurred by the employer.  Yet, Outa notes, the SABC has yet to bring a case for damages against Motsoeneng.  It also accuses the SABC of failing to take the recommended remedial action set out in the 2014 Public Protector’s report.  In the report, Motsoeneng was found to have committed misconduct, and it states that the irregular expenditure be recouped.

• Read this report by Se-Anne Koopman in full at The Mercury

Read Outa’s press statement at Polity

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page