Tshabalala to name MPs who interfered at SABC

FORMER SABC chairperson Ellen Zandile Tshabalala is set to name a number of politicians in her report to Parliament, who interfered in the running of the SABC.

Tshabalala initially singled out SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande as one politician who had interfered on SABC matters.

But the SACP at the weekend warned Tshabalala it would take legal action against her for not telling the truth. It said Nzimande, as leader of the party, raised issues about digital migration and this was not political interference.

Tshabalala also told MPs during the hearings on the SABC on Friday that other than Nzimande the ANC and DA had also been involved in political interference.

DA chief whip Mike Waters warned Tshabalala she must not confuse accountability with political interference.

Tshabalala and her then predecessor Ben Ngubane defended the appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng during the hearings.

Ngubane left the SABC in March 2013 following infighting in the board.

The board was subsequently dissolved by Parliament after almost all its members resigned.

It was succeeded by Tshabalala’s board, which was also mired in controversy and infighting.

Tshabalala quit the SABC in December 2015 after she was caught lying about her qualifications.

She claimed she had a BCom degree from Unisa, but this was denied by the university. Tshabalala and Ngubane were the last witnesses to give evidence to the committee.

Most of the witnesses, who were either executives at the SABC or non-executive directors of the board, fingered Motsoeneng as the man at the centre of the controversy. The report will be discussed by the committee later this week.

It is expected to be part of the evidence to be included in the draft and final report of the committee.

The committee has another few weeks to go before it finishes its report, which will be tabled before a full sitting of the House.