Tshabalala tactics a cynical attempt to delay justice

23 October 2014

The court interdict obtained by SABC Chairperson Ellen Tshabalala today is a cynical attempt to tie the parliamentary Inquiry into her qualifications up in legal knots. 

The Communications Portfolio Committee today heard that Ms. Tshabalala's legal team served papers at the Western Cape High Court yesterday to prevent the Committee from proceeding with its Inquiry into alleged misconduct. 

The Court hearing on the matter has been set down for Monday 3 November. The Speaker, the Portfolio Committee, the President and Minister of Communications are the first, second, third and fourth respondents respectively.

Ms. Tshabalala's legal team is apparently alleging that the Inquiry, as it is currently constituted, will not afford her a fair hearing. The Portfolio Committee has, however, been assured by the parliamentary legal team that all the correct processes have been followed.

Ms. Tshablala is doing everything she can to draw attention away from the central issue: whether or not she lied to Parliament about having obtained a BCom and Diploma from Unisa. She has been given ample time and every opportunity to provide evidence of her qualifications, but has not done so.

It was clear from the beginning that Ms. Tshabalala was going to use every technicality her legal team could think of to delay the process. I sincerely hope that not a cent of public money is being used to pay her high-powered lawyers, and have submitted parliamentary questions in this regard.

We trust that the courts will see this interdict for the cynical ploy that it is, so that we can get on with the Inquiry. The South African people are getting impatient. They want to see justice done in this matter.

Statement issued by Gavin Davis MP, DA Shadow Minister of Communications, October 23 2014

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