Inquiry against SABC board Chairperson: postponed

Meeting report

After allegations in newspapers and a request from the DA about misrepresentation of academic qualifications, the Chairperson wrote to the SABC board Chairperson on 30 July 2014 to submit the qualifications by 12 August.  Ms Zandile Tshabalala then requested an extension 11 August from the Chairperson which was granted to the 26 of August, only for her not to respond to requested information. She sent an affidavit that she has lost her bag with the qualifications in 2001-2002. The matter was taken to the Committee on 16 September and there was a decision to recommend the House to suspend her from SABC. The Committee agreed to sit on an inquiry on her qualifications on 25 October and later postponed it to 14 October. This was to enable her to prepare her defence so as to give her a fair hearing and to clarify any matter she required from the Committee. On 14 October, her defense indicated it was not ready to proceed with the hearing and was granted postponement by the Committee.

On 22 October 2014, Ms Tshabalala's legal representatives served a notice of motion on the following: the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Portfolio Committee on Communications, the President of the Republic of South Africa and the Minister of Communications. The notice of motion requested the Western Cape High Court to adjudicate whether the proceedings of the inquiry before the Committee in terms of the Broadcasting Act 15 (a) to indicate whether it was a disciplinary hearing or not. The legal team needed postponement on the matter until finalisation. The judge appreciated the urgency of the matter and it was in public interest to hear the matter expeditiously. The matter would be before court on Monday 03 November 2014. On 23 October 2014, the judge ruled the Committee may not proceed with the meeting until the court has decided whether the inquiry as provided for in 15 (a) of the Broadcasting Act constituted a disciplinary hearing. Until the High Court had ruled on the matter, the Committee will not proceed on the matter of the SABC board.

The meeting was adjourned.