Complaint against Motsoeneng 'wife gift'

A complaint about SABC acting chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng being given a wife as a gift has been lodged with the Commission for Gender Equality, it said on Tuesday (17/06/2014).

"We will not be providing the details on the merits and the demerits of the case as this will prejudice the investigation currently underway," spokesman Javu Baloyi said.

The commission would not respond to media questions while the investigation was underway.

"As soon as the investigation is completed, the complainant as well as those interested in the outcomes of the investigation will be informed, and a formal public statement will be issued."

The Sowetan reported on Friday that traditional Venda chiefs gave Motsoeneng a wife, a cow, and a calf during his visit to their area. About 10 women were lined up in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, on Wednesday for Motsoeneng to choose one.

He and other SABC executives were in the area for a meeting with Mudzi wa Vhurereli ha Vhavenda, a lobby group of traditional leaders and healers.

The woman Motsoeneng chose was pictured in the newspaper bare-breasted next to him, standing behind the trailer on which the cow and calf had been loaded.

She is 22-year-old human resources management student Vanessa Mutswari.

He received the gifts because he was "committed to his job and understands the strategic objectives of the SABC".

In February, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela released a report which found Motsoeneng's appointment irregular. His salary increased from R1.5 million to R2.4m in one year. She found he misrepresented his qualifications, that he passed matric, to the SABC. - Sapa