Parliament to probe SABC chair qualifications
The Portfolio Committee on Communications will conduct a formal inquiry into allegations that SABC chairperson, Ellen Tshabalala, lied about her qualifications.
SABC chief operations officer (COO), Hlaudi Motsoeneng, is also under a cloud after it was found he misrepresented his matric qualifications to the public broadcaster.
The decision, the Democratic Alliance said, follows its request on the 14 July 2014 for the Committee to conduct such an inquiry, following a report in the City Press newspaper that Ms. Tshabalala did not have the qualifications listed in her application.
There is strong prima facie evidence that Tshabalala lied to Parliament about her qualifications during the application process, the DA said, noting the following:
- In the curriculum vitae submitted to Parliament, Ms Tshabalala claimed to have a B.Com and diploma in labour relations from UNISA; and
- A letter from UNISA’s legal department, in the DA’s possession, indicates that Tshabalala has neither a degree nor diploma from UNISA.
It emerged in the Portfolio Committee on Tuesday (9 September) that Tshabalala failed to meet the 26 August 2014 deadline to submit copies of her qualifications to Parliament’s legal unit.
This was after Tshabalala had requested an extension on the original deadline of 11 August 2014, the political party said.
The Committee agreed today that, at its next meeting (Tuesday 16 September 2014), it would decide on:
- The precise processes and procedures to be followed in conducting the inquiry; and
- Whether or not it would recommend the suspension of Tshabalala pending the outcome of the inquiry.
“If the inquiry finds that Tshabalala lied to Parliament about her qualifications, she may be removed from office in accordance with section 15 of the Broadcasting Act,” said Gavin Davis, DA Shadow Minister of Communications.
“Ms.Tshabalala may also face criminal charges since perjury is a criminal offence,” he said.
More on the SABC
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