COPE opens case against former SABC board member

BRIXTON – Brixton Police Station came to a standstill on 29 July, when Congress of the People (COPE) opened a case of fraud against the former SABC  board chairwoman Ellen Tshabalala.

The lies about her qualifications was the subject of the case opened by the protesting political party.

Over 50 members in COPE-marked T-shirts led by the party’s national spokesperson Dennis Bloem, stormed into the police station where a police captain was allocated to take the statement on the case.

“We are here to officially open the case of fraud because Tshabalala chaired the SABC board without proper qualifications, she knowingly lied, she misled the country and defrauded the citizens of their money,” said Bloem accompanied by the members.

The party made it clear that it expects the police to investigate and make an arrest as soon as possible.

It also wants Tshabalala to pay back the salaries she received during her working days at SABC.

“This is the taxpayers’ money, our money,” shouted the crowd.

The protesters said the time has come for society to express its grave disquiet at the collusion role of government in making shady appointments because of political connections.

Bloem threatened the party is going to attach everything Tshabalala owns to recover the money she stole.

“We must not allow this cancer to continue to the detriment of our institution. We want to send a message to all the government people with higher ranks, we will hunt them one-by-one and make sure all who are like Tshabalala pays each and every cent they stole from the South African honest citizens.”

When asked why are they only opening the case now after so many months, Bloem said they waited for government to take action but seeing that there is nothing happening, they decided to act.

“We can’t just talk and talk, it is time we start taking actions, we need to act, we are sure people on the ground would like seeing action not hearing talks,” said Bloem.

He said even though the woman resigned seven months ago in December 2014, her case remained an unchallenged accusation in the public domain that she knowingly and with deceitful purpose misrepresented her qualifications to assume a high-paying and influential post.

When Tshabalala was challenged last year to produce her qualifications, she lied in a sworn statement that her qualifications were stolen from her house.

Unisa where she claimed she had studied, checked and was unable to corroborate her claims.

“Left with no defence, she was forced to resign,” stated Bloem.

Brixton Police Station Commander Colonel Mitchelle Jones confirmed the case has been opened and it will be investigated.