A background screening process commissioned by the Democratic Alliance has provided more proof that SABC chair Zandile Tshabalala does not have a degree, the party said on Thursday.
“The DA enlisted the services of Managed Integrity Evaluation to check Ms Tshabalala’s qualifications against the National Qualifications Register, a process referred to as ‘background screening’,” DA MP Gavin Davis said in a statement.
According to the party, the process revealed that:
— Tshabalala registered for a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) at Unisa in 1996
— Her student number was 0658-212-5
— She was last registered in 1996
— The qualification was not completed
“The DA will present the results of the screening process as new evidence at the parliamentary inquiry into Ms Tshabalala’s qualifications when it resumes,” Davis said. “It could not be verified whether or not Ms Tshabalala holds a postgraduate diploma in labour relations from Unisa as this qualification is not included on the National Qualifications Register.”
SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago said the broadcaster could not comment on the matter. “Ms Tshabalala is dealing with it. The matter is before court and we cannot get involved,” he said.
On 23 October, Tshabalala obtained an interim interdict in the Western Cape high court halting an inquiry into whether she lied about her academic qualifications. The announcement was made during a meeting of parliament’s portfolio committee on communications, which was due to start the inquiry.
“On 23 October 2014, the judge ruled we may not proceed with the meeting,” committee chair Joyce Moloi-Moropa said at the time.
MPs would have to wait until the judge ruled on the matter to be heard on 3 November.
“On 22 October, Ms Tshabalala’s legal representatives served a notice of motion on the following: The speaker of the national assembly, the portfolio committee on communications, the president of the Republic of South Africa and the minister of communications,” Moloi-Moropa said.
The notice of motion asked the court to determine whether the proceedings before the committee were a disciplinary hearing or not.
MPs insisted they were merely conducting an inquiry, but Tshabalala said it was taking the form of a disciplinary hearing.
Tshabalala is accused of misrepresenting her academic qualifications when applying to the committee for the SABC job.
She stated on her CV that she had a BComm degree from Unisa and a postgraduate degree in labour relations.
Unisa has since stated that, according to its records, she had neither of the qualifications. — Sapa
