Ellen Tshabalala loses court interdict
AUCKLAND PARK– Ellen Tshabalala failed dismally in her efforts to halt investigations of her academic qualifications.
SABC chairperson Ellen Tshabalala lost her court bid to halt a parliamentary inquiry into whether she lied about her qualifications in her CV when she applied for the position.
“Order for relief [is] refused …” said Western Cape High Court Judge Elizabeth Baartman on 12 November.
Tshabalala had asked the High Court to decide whether the Parliamentary Inquiry into the matter was legal.
The ruling has effectively given Parliament’s Communications Portfolio Committee the go ahead to continue with the inquiry.
Democratic Alliance MP Gavin Davis said the judgment was not surprising.
“Judge J Baartman’s dismissal of SABC chairperson Ellen Tshabalala’s court challenge [on 12 November] is a vindication of the parliamentary process and a victory for common sense,” said Davis.
“The Judge saw Ms Tshabalala’s delaying tactics for what they were… Ms Tshabalala has been given ample time to explain why there is no record of her having obtained the qualification that appears on her CV. We trust that she will now co-operate with the inquiry so that justice can be served and we can all move on with getting the SABC back on track.”
According to Davis, all members of the committee agree on the need to deal with the matter expeditiously.
Tshabalala was told to furnish Parliament with proof of her qualifications by 11 August. She failed to submit these documents, instead asking for an extension which she was granted for 26 August.
Joyce Moloi-Moropa chairperson of the Portfolio Committee said Tshabalala failed to submit her qualifications stating that she was still trying to locate them.
“There is strong prima facie evidence that Ms Tshabalala lied to Parliament about her qualifications during the application process,” said Davis.
In the curriculum vitae submitted to Parliament, Tshabalala claimed to have a BCom and Diploma in Labour Relations from Unisa; and a letter from Unisa’s legal department, in the DA’s possession, indicates that Tshabalala has neither a degree nor diploma from Unisa, said Davis.
This incident is not the first as Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s report on the SABC in February found that its chief operating officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, lied about having a matric.
