Ellen earned her money ’
THE SABC board has defended its former chairwoman Ellen Tshabalala amid calls for her to pay back R1.3-million paid to her during her two-year stint at the public broadcaster.
In a letter seen by Sowetan, acting board chairman Mbulaheni Maguvhe said Tshabalala – who was forced to resign after a parliamentary inquiry found her guilty of lying about her qualifications –“rightfully earned the money and it will not be recovered from her ”.
Maguvhe in the letter dated March 5 made it clear that the request for her to pay back the money was unfair. He also said Tshabalala fulfilled all her duties and that the matter should be raised with the Communications Minister Faith Muthambi and not the board.
“The fees paid to Ms Tshabalala were rightfully earned by her through her attendance at and carrying out her fiduciary duties during the meetings of the board and its committees,” reads the letter, which is a response to a DA letter.
The DA demanded that the SABC retrieve all the money paid to Tshabalala since her appointment as interim chairwoman on March 2013 up to her resignation in December. DA MP Gavin Davis said the money constituted “ill gotten gains ” and quoted the SABC ’ s fraud and corruption policy which requires recovery of losses by the SABC as a result of corrupt or wrongful activities.
Tshabalala has refused to comment on the matter. Last week she said that “the SABC would have to apply its own rules in dealing with the matter and make a decision ”.
“When I resigned, I took it upon myself to deal privately with my matter, ” she said as she also pointed at her intention to take University of South Africa to court.
She accuses the institution of having manipulated the information it pulled off its system.
Tshabalala was forced to resign from her position last year after she was found guilty of perjury and lying about her academic qualifications under oath. She claimed in her CV to have a bachelor of commerce degree and a post-graduate diploma in labour relations from Unisa. Nominations for Tshabalala ’ s replacement have already been concluded. The closing day was February 27 and interviews are set for March 25.
The date for the shortlisting of candidates is expected to be decided soon by the portfolio committee on communications.