The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it wants Communications Minister Faith Muthambi’s head to roll over Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s controversial pay raise.

The party on Friday said it welcomed an African National Congress (ANC) statement “condemning” the South African Broadacasting Corporation (SABC) Chief Operations Officer’s (COO) salary increase of R912 000 increase to R3.7-million.

The ANC’s Zizi Kodwa said the ruling party “calls for prudence on the use of public funds”.

“We believe that any adjustment of salary has to be based on justifiable grounds like the rate of inflation which is largely used by both the state and the private sector as a standard criteria‚” Kodwa.

“Our government has committed itself to tightening the belt including prudence within the public service broadly. Our failure to follow through with these commitments can only set a dangerous precedence that can't be sustained and justified.

“The SABC board should not operate outside the framework of commitments provided by the National Treasury.”

“In the midst of all the cross-party condemnation‚ the silence of Muthambi has been deafening. This will not be the first time the minister appears to be at odds with her own party over Motsoeneng‚ said the DA’s communications spokesperson‚ Gavin Davis.

“Luthuli House was reportedly furious when Muthambi confirmed Motsoeneng’s appointment as COO on July 7 last year. Then‚ in Parliament on September 3 this year‚ Muthambi publicly disagreed with the ANC’s discussion document that states there is a leadership crisis at the SABC.”

Davis said it was “Muthambi who pressurised the SABC board to recommend Motsoeneng for the position of COO in defiance of the Public Protector’s report”‚ which found that Motoseneng had unlawfully increased his salary three times within one year.

“And it was Muthambi who saw to it that SABC board members who voted against Motsoeneng’s appointment were unlawfully removed from office‚” said Davis.

“So‚ if the ANC is serious about dealing with Motsoeneng‚ it will put pressure on President Jacob Zuma to remove Muthambi from the Cabinet.

“Muthambi’s removal would send out the clearest signal that the ANC has finally lost patience with the never-ending shenanigans at the SABC.”