The Portfolio Committee on Communications will conduct a formal inquiry into allegations that SABC chairperson, Ellen Tshabalala, lied about her qualifications.<\/p>\n
SABC chief operations officer (COO), Hlaudi Motsoeneng, is also under a cloud after it was found he\u00a0misrepresented his matric qualifications to the public broadcaster.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
There is strong prima facie evidence that Tshabalala lied to Parliament about her qualifications during the application process, the DA said, noting the following:<\/p>\n
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\u2019s legal unit.<\/p>\n
This was after Tshabalala had requested an extension on the original deadline of 11 August 2014, the political party said.<\/p>\n
The Committee agreed today that, at its next meeting (Tuesday 16 September 2014), it would decide on:<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“Ms.Tshabalala may also face criminal charges since perjury is a criminal offence,” he said.<\/p>\n
Fresh qualification scandal at the SABC<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n SABC\u2019s Motsoeneng paid more than Zuma<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Don\u2019t punish Motsoeneng for his lies: SABC<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n