Johannesburg - An “exhausted” SABC chairwoman Ellen Zandile Tshabalala says she will respond on Friday to calls for her dismissal and a possible criminal investigation against her.
She faces dismissal from the public broadcaster, and now a possible criminal investigation after the DA laid a charge of perjury against her.
On Thursday DA communications spokesman Gavin Davis, who initiated the inquiry that found her guilty on Wednesday of lying to Parliament about her qualifications, laid criminal charges against her.
Speaker Baleka Mbete has to deal with what to do about Tshabalala’s future.
Committee chairwoman Joyce Moloi-Moropa has communicated the committee’s decision to her.
When called for comment on Thursday, Tshabalala asked that all questions be sent to her in writing.
“Please write questions. I’m exhausted with journalists. Tomorrow (Friday) there’s a press conference. I’m not going to respond to (Davis’s charges).
“If it’s a court process it will go through the normal process and I will engage lawyers on that,” said Tshabalala.
She said she was not in a position to disclose the contents of the briefing, but she would be responding to the latest developments.
“I’ve engaged with my lawyer and my lawyer will be speaking on my behalf,” Tshabalala said.
In an affidavit presented to the committee on Wednesday, she said despite her willingness to take part in the inquiry that found her guilty “on a fair basis”, her requests for a postponement to secure forensic evidence from an IT expert were denied.
“My attorney has also had difficulty obtaining Unisa’s records,” said Tshabalala.
After laying the charges, Davis said the committee heard “conclusive evidence” that the academic records and certificates referred to in Tshabalala’s affidavit did not exist.
“Tshabalala therefore lied when she stated in an affidavit that these documents were stolen,” said Davis.
He said Section 9 of the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act stated: “Any person who, in an affidavit, affirmation or solemn or attested declaration made before a person competent to administer an oath or affirmation or take the declaration in question, has made a false statement knowing it to be false, shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to the penalties prescribed by law for the offence of perjury.”
Davis said: “If Tshabalala is convicted of perjury, she will be liable to pay back the money paid out to her for attending SABC board meetings. Last year, she was paid R936 000, so this is likely to be a substantial sum for her full tenure.”
Mbete confirmed that the committee’s decision had been communicated to her, albeit informally, and would not comment further. She said Moloi-Moropa contacted her telephonically on Wednesday, but the two of them had yet to make arrangements to meet.
“My only comment is that I will be able to engage with you on a more informed basis,” Mbete said.
“I hesitate to make a comment when I don’t even have a briefing from my colleague who’s the chair of the portfolio committee. Once she has briefed me, then I’ll have a basis on which I can engage with the issues. To be partially informed, I don’t want to comment on that basis.”
Referring to the frustrations of her colleagues in Parliament and some in the ANC’s national leadership in Luthuli House, Mbete said her situation was different because of the position she held in Parliament.
“Those people have their own basis and perspective which they are looking at things. I have to work here on the basis of structures here, and the portfolio committee is very important,” said Mbete.
The Star