COMMITTEE CALLS FOR SUSPENSION OF SABC CHAIRPERSON

Parliament, 3 December 2014 - The Portfolio Committee on Communications has recommended that Ms Zandile Tshabalala, Chairperson of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), be suspended with immediate effect.

This after Ms Tshabalala was found guilty on two misconduct charges she was facing. She faced two charges relating to allegations that she misrepresented her qualifications to Parliament and that she lied under oath when she said in an affidavit that her qualifications had been stolen during a burglary at her home. The Committee resumed its inquiry into her qualifications today. Ms Tshabalala did not attend the inquiry.

The Committee found her guilty on both charges. The Committee arrived at this conclusion after receiving evidence led by parliamentary initiator, Mr Ntuthuzelo Vanara, who interviewed two witnesses. The witnesses were Mr Jan van Wyk, Executive Director for Legal Services from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Mr Thembinkosi Mngoma, Committee Secretary.

Committee Chairperson Ms Joyce Moloi-Moropa, stressed that the Committee remained committed to upholding the Western Cape High Court judgment which emphasised the need to observe the rules of natural justice when dealing with the matter. 

"We recommend that Ms Tshabalala be suspended from her position immediately pending adoption of the Committee report by the National Assembly, in which we recommend that she be dismissed. However, in light of the spirit of natural justice the Committee will give her 14 days to respond to recommendations contained in the report that will be tabled in the National Assembly," Ms Moloi-Moropa said.

Statement issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications, Ms Joyce Moloi-Moropa, December 3 2014

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