The African National Congress (ANC) on Monday urged the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to ensure it upholds the Western Cape High Court's ruling against COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

"The ANC believes that there is an undisputable link between good governance and compliance with the law and accordingly urge the SABC to ensure that it upholds, in deed, the letter and spirit of the Western Cape High Court ruling," spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said.

The public broadcaster’s board and Communications Minister Faith Muthambi were duty-bound to uphold the law, he said.

Last Monday, the Supreme Court of Appeal rejected Motsoeneng’s bid to appeal against the Western Cape High Court’s November 2015 ruling declaring his appointment as COO irrational and setting it aside.

On Thursday, News24 reported that the SABC’s group secretary had asked the board, in a letter dated September 19, to recommended to Muthambi that Motsoeneng be appointed acting COO until December. The board was asked to make the recommendation at its next meeting on October 28.

"No decisions taken by the board must be seen to, or have the effect of, undermining or circumventing the decision reached by our courts in this matter," Kodwa said.

The party called on Muthambi to "assist the board" in upholding the law. It wanted Parliament to summon the SABC to account for the state of the corporation and the problems facing it.

Kodwa said the SABC’s board had a responsibility to provide effective leadership based on an ethical foundation.

On Sunday, it was reported that Motsoeneng had been paid a bonus of more than R11-million, which had raised the ire of civil society.