Parliament launches inquiry into SABC chairperson

Chairperson of the SABC Board, Zandile Ellen Tshabalala,is under fire for allegedly misleading Parliament about her qualifications.

Tshabalala is said to have stated that she holds a BCom degree and a postgraduate Diploma in Labour Relations on her curriculum vitae when she applied for a position with the SABC in 2013.

Following media articles concerning the matter, the Democratic Alliance (DA) launched a complaint with the Portfolio Committee.

“It is unclear why it is taking so long to receive an opinion from Parliament’s Legal Unit on Parliament’s mandate to investigate these allegations. Section 15 of the Broadcasting Act clearly states that the National Assembly has the power to conduct an inquiry into allegations of misconduct levelled against SABC Board Members,” said Gavin Davis, DA shadow Minister of Communications in a statement last month.

Tshabalala was told to furnish Parliament with proof of her qualifications by 11 August. She failed to submit these documents, instead asking for an extension which she was granted for 26 August.

Joyce Moloi-Moropa chairperson of the Portfolio Committee said Tshabalala failed to submit her qualifications stating that she was still trying to locate them.

“There is strong prima facie evidence that Ms Tshabalala lied to Parliament about her qualifications during the application process,” said Davis. In the curriculum vitae submitted to Parliament, Tshabalala claimed to have a BCom 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, said Davis.

This incident is not the first as Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s report on the SABC in February found that its chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, lied about having a matric. It is yet to been seen what consequences Tshabalala will face if the Portfolio Committee finds that the allegations are true.