Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Public embarrassment as SABC's lying chairperson Ellen Zandile Tshabalala wants parliament's inquiry into her to be postponed yet again.


The SABC's lying chairperson Ellen Zandile Tshabalala remains mired in public embarrassment as she tried yet again, for yet another time, on Tuesday to try and delay parliament's inquiry into her apparently bogus claims of UNISA qualifications she had been exposed months ago for not having.

On Tuesday Ellen Zandile Tshabalala's advocate Norman Arendse asked parliament's portfolio committee on communications, the committee tasked with oversight of the SABC, to postpone the inquiry.

A UNISA representative was sitting ready in parliament, ready to testify to Ellen Zandile Tshabalala's lack of qualifications at UNISA.

It was yet another postponement request by Ellen Zandile Tshabalala who refuses to provide any proof that she has a B.Com and a postgraduate diploma in labour relations which UNISA says she doesn't have.

The committee already granted several postponements and extensions to the controversial chairperson who've raked in hundreds of thousands of rands in multiple SABC board meetings since her appointment late last year, and who has been a staunch defender of the SABC's equally controversial and famously matricless chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

Members of parliament are furious with Ellen Zandile Tshabalala blasting her for her "delaying tactics".

Ellen Zandile Tshabalala has tried to wiggle her way out of providing answers and responding to calls regarding her non-existing UNISA qualifications for months since it was exposed that UNISA has no record of her obtaining the qualifications she claimed.

"There's one thing we want. If you have those qualifications, why must we postpone to another day," asked ANC MP Maesela Kekana today in parliament. "We are tired of these people who make this beautiful republic to be a banana republic."

Economic Freedom Fighters MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi told Ellen Zandile Tshabalala: "We are inquiring a simple thing. Do you or do you not have the qualifications? Don't waste our time. Answer the question."

"It was clear from the outset that Ellen Zandile Tshabalala had no intention of using the inquiry to clear her name today," said Democratic Alliance MP Gavin Davis.

"Ellen Zandile Tshabalala has a very simple question to answer: did she lie about her qualifications or not? If she did not, all she needs to do is produce evidence of her qualifications, as she has repeatedly been asked to do".

"We believe Ellen Zandile Tshabalala has been given ample time - three weeks - to prepare for it and there is therefore no reason for the delay. We will continue to participate in the process to ensure that justice is done in this matter," says Gavin Davis.

People who lie on their CV to parliament can be found guilty of perjury and could face criminal conviction.

Ellen Zandile Tshabalala swore before a commissioner of oaths that her qualifications were stolen during a burglary more than 10 years ago - yet lost and stolen qualifications can be verified by tertiary education institutions who hold the original records.

Ellen Zandile Tshabalala also told outh Africa's parliament's National Assembly and parliament's communications portfolio committee that she had these qualifications when she applied to become SABC chairperson.