BRUSHING off allegations of stalling, Parliament’s communications portfolio committee says it will give clarity by the end of this month on whether an inquiry will be established to look into claims that the chairwoman of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board, Zandile Tshabalala, misled the National Assembly about her qualifications.
Allegations emerged last month that Ms Tshabalala had lied to Parliament about her qualifications. In her CV, Ms Tshabalala said she had graduated from the University of South Africa (Unisa) with a BCom and a postgraduate diploma in labour relations.
However, according to reports, the university said Ms Tshabalala had neither of these qualifications.
The chairwoman of the communications portfolio committee, Joyce Moloi-Moropa, said on Monday that the allegations were "serious".
"Myself and the parliament legal section are working on specific deadlines and there will be feedback before the end of August," Ms Moloi-Moropa said. She dismissed accusations by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that Parliament was dragging its feet on the matter.
"The DA had sent me a letter to enquire about the progress (of Ms Tshabalala’s matter) and I was going to respond to them ... my appeal is that the DA holds their horses," Ms Moloi-Moropa said.
But DA MP and communications spokesman Gavin Davis said on Monday that there was no sign of any actual commitment by Parliament to find out whether Ms Tshabalala did in fact lie about her qualifications.
"It has been over a month since I formally requested the chairperson of the communications portfolio committee to initiate an inquiry into (the) allegations," Mr Davis said.
"I have written to the chairperson of the portfolio committee, Joyce Moloi-Moropa, urging her to explain the delay in launching this important inquiry. I will raise the issue again at the communications portfolio committee meeting tomorrow (Tuesday)."
Mr Davis said it was unclear why it was taking so long to receive an opinion from Parliament’s Legal Unit on Parliament’s mandate to investigate the allegations against Ms Tshabalala.
"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," Mr Davis said.
The allegations levelled against Ms Tshabalala have compounded pressure on the public broadcaster, which has been under fire of late following the permanent appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng as chief operations officer. Mr Motsoeneng’s appointment was confirmed by Communications Minister Faith Muthambi last month, despite damning findings by the public protector that he had fraudulently misrepresented his qualifications, purged staff, and had irregularly granted salary increases to himself and certain staff members.
Ms Muthambi’s decision is now being challenged by the DA in court. The application, which is being opposed by the SABC and Ms Muthambi, will be heard in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.
© BDlive 2014
Zandile Tshabalala, right. Picture: PUXLEY MAKGATHO
BRUSHING off allegations of stalling, Parliament’s communications portfolio committee says it will give clarity by the end of this month on whether an inquiry will be established to look into claims that the chairwoman of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board, Zandile Tshabalala, misled the National Assembly about her qualifications.
Allegations emerged last month that Ms Tshabalala had lied to Parliament about her qualifications. In her CV, Ms Tshabalala said she had graduated from the University of South Africa (Unisa) with a BCom and a postgraduate diploma in labour relations.
However, according to reports, the university said Ms Tshabalala had neither of these qualifications.
The chairwoman of the communications portfolio committee, Joyce Moloi-Moropa, said on Monday that the allegations were "serious".
"Myself and the parliament legal section are working on specific deadlines and there will be feedback before the end of August," Ms Moloi-Moropa said. She dismissed accusations by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that Parliament was dragging its feet on the matter.
"The DA had sent me a letter to enquire about the progress (of Ms Tshabalala’s matter) and I was going to respond to them ... my appeal is that the DA holds their horses," Ms Moloi-Moropa said.
But DA MP and communications spokesman Gavin Davis said on Monday that there was no sign of any actual commitment by Parliament to find out whether Ms Tshabalala did in fact lie about her qualifications.
"It has been over a month since I formally requested the chairperson of the communications portfolio committee to initiate an inquiry into (the) allegations," Mr Davis said.
"I have written to the chairperson of the portfolio committee, Joyce Moloi-Moropa, urging her to explain the delay in launching this important inquiry. I will raise the issue again at the communications portfolio committee meeting tomorrow (Tuesday)."
Mr Davis said it was unclear why it was taking so long to receive an opinion from Parliament’s Legal Unit on Parliament’s mandate to investigate the allegations against Ms Tshabalala.
"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," Mr Davis said.
The allegations levelled against Ms Tshabalala have compounded pressure on the public broadcaster, which has been under fire of late following the permanent appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng as chief operations officer. Mr Motsoeneng’s appointment was confirmed by Communications Minister Faith Muthambi last month, despite damning findings by the public protector that he had fraudulently misrepresented his qualifications, purged staff, and had irregularly granted salary increases to himself and certain staff members.
Ms Muthambi’s decision is now being challenged by the DA in court. The application, which is being opposed by the SABC and Ms Muthambi, will be heard in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.
© BDlive 2014
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