Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma will await the outcome of an inquiry into SABC board chairwoman Zandile Ellen Tshabalala before deciding her fate.
Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj said yesterday that acting Speaker of the National Assembly, Lechesa Tsenoli, had written to Zuma, informing him that the inquiry would begin on Tuesday.
This follows Parliament’s communications oversight committee agreeing unanimously to recommend that Tshabalala be suspended, after she missed a deadline to submit proof of her academic qualifications.
The committee resolved last month to launch an inquiry after it emerged there was no record of qualifications Tsha balala had listed on her CV, but also agreed to call for her suspension.
The latter decision was overruled by senior ANC MP and National Assembly house chairman Cedric Frolick, who argued it was Zuma’s prerogative whether to suspend Tshabalala. The SABC board is appointed by Zuma after the communications committee interviews and shortlists candidates.
Earlier this week, Maharaj said Zuma had received no communication from Parliament on the request for Tshabalala to be suspended.
Tshabalala has refused to resign, despite reportedly having been instructed by the ANC to do so.
The SABC’s chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, was found by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela to have lied about having matric when he first applied for a job at the broadcaster. She also found he had caused the SABC unnecessary costs by purging senior staff who received substantial payouts, and awarded irregular salary hikes to other staff.
She recommended that Motsoeneng, then employed in an acting capacity, be disciplined, but the board instead appointed him permanently to the post. That decision is the subject of an application in the Western Cape High Court in which the DA is seeking to have his appointment set aside.
The SABC has been beset for more than five years by leadership instability, fuelled by political interference in its editorial decisions and governance.
Saturday Star