MPs move to suspend SABC chair

17 September 2014 - 02:19 By Thabo Mokone
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SABC board chairman Ellen Tshabalala had a BCom degree from the University of South Africa and a postgraduate degree in Labour Relations, but Unisa denied Tshabalala was awarded a degree. Parliament has instituted proceedings to suspend her with immediate effect over allegations that she lied to the institution about her qualifications. File photo
SABC board chairman Ellen Tshabalala had a BCom degree from the University of South Africa and a postgraduate degree in Labour Relations, but Unisa denied Tshabalala was awarded a degree. Parliament has instituted proceedings to suspend her with immediate effect over allegations that she lied to the institution about her qualifications. File photo
Image: PUXLEY MAKGATHO

Parliament has instituted proceedings to suspend SABC board chairman Ellen Tshabalala with immediate effect over allegations that she lied to the institution about her qualifications.

This was the unanimous decision of the National Assembly's portfolio committee on communications when it met yesterday to discuss how it should deal with allegations that Tshabalala misled it about her qualifications before her appointment last year.

The committee would this afternoon present its decision in the National Assembly for it to be adopted as a resolution of the house, which would be passed on to President Jacob Zuma as recommendation in terms of the Broadcasting Act.

It also resolved to call Tshabalala to explain herself on Friday next week, ahead of a full-scale inquiry into allegations against her.

"We're going to formally institute an inquiry on the 25th," said ANC MP and committee chairman Joyce Moloi-Moropa.

Tshabalala earlier refused to answer questions from DA MP Gavin Davis and the EFF's Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, who both asked her to confirm before the committee if she had lied about her qualifications.

"It is malicious to ask for the chairperson's qualifications when the chairperson actually declared in parliament what the problem was right from the beginning. I am not saying parliament doesn't deserve to know my qualifications," said Tshabalala.

Minister of Communications Faith Muthambi said she had received a report from Tshabalala on the allegations and she would make her determination on the matter at a later stage.

Tshabalala landed in hot water in July when the City Press revealed that she had misrepresented her qualifications on her CV when she applied for a position on the SABC board last year.

Tshabalala, who was appointed in October, stated on her CV that she had a BCom degree from the University of South Africa and a postgraduate degree in labour relations.

Unisa denied Tshabalala was awarded a degree .

Acting on the newspaper's report and a request by the DA, the communications committee asked Tshabalala to submit her qualifications by August 11.

She asked for an extension of the deadline and she was given until August 26 to respond.

Last week, MPs fumed when she told the committee she was trying to locate her qualifications and was awaiting responses from the institutions cited on her CV.

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