The Organisation Against Tax Abuse (Outa) on Wednesday called for an urgent investigation into the operations of public broadcaster the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and the removal of COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

Unless irregularities at the broadcaster were effectively addressed, Outa would “seriously consider” a public campaign for advertisers to withdraw their advertising spend from the SABC, along with a call to support the public’s right to discontinue television licence payments under unacceptable conditions.

“We find it quite amusing that, after all the prior charges and evidence of Motsoeneng’s questionable and irrational behaviour, leadership within the ANC has the audacity to only now question his conduct. We find the Minister’s lack of action against Motsoeneng rather disdainful and a sign of disrespect to the people of South Africa, who are expected to pay for the SABC’s services,” said Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenage.

Duvenage criticised the disciplinary action against several journalists that had questioned the editorial policy of the SABC and alleged censorship after Motsoeneng declared that there would be no airing of violent protests.

“News censorship to disguise the reality of the situation on the ground is taking us back to the dark days of apartheid. Outa believes that it is highly irregular to allow this situation to develop to the point of clear political interference in the running of the public broadcaster,” he said.

He further questioned Motsoeneng’s position at the broadcaster following the Public Protector’s findings of a fabrication of his matric qualification, his “irregular and unlawful” appointment, as outlined by a court, and the irregular increase of his salary from R1.5-million to R2.4-million within a year.

“He also gave other irregular salary increases to certain staff members. When the SABC ignored the Public Protector’s findings, the Democratic Alliance took the SABC and the Minister to court. Despite losing the court case, Motsoeneng is still in office,” Duvenage pointed out.

“We cannot allow the public broadcaster to become a victim of State capture. As such, we demand Motsoeneng’s immediate removal from his leadership position within the SABC,” he concluded.