Ugly past haunts professor at interview for board position
PROFESSOR Saths Cooper is hoping the National Assembly committee on communications will not rely on his past reputation when deciding on his suitability to serve on the SABC board.
This after Cooper’s past came under scrutiny when he was interviewed in Parliament yesterday.
“I would be really put off if the portfolio (committee) chooses the past when clearly this is business unusual and you need the best candidates available who are willing to be put out there. I will not feel disappointed, it can (give me) three to five years to pursue other things, especially my memoirs I have started,” Cooper said
His comments came after he faced a gruelling interview, especially from members of Parliament (MPs) from the opposition. The DA’s Phumzile van Damme initially asked the former vice-chancellor of University of Durban-Westville (now University of KZN, Westville) about a contract that was allegedly awarded unfairly to him by the Zoo Lake Bowling Club.
Cooper said the allegation was made by previous tenants.
He said he pursued the matter even when the City of Joburg did not take it further in court.
“The court found that there was nothing irregular,” Cooper said.
Van Damme then asked if he took on judicial review a Higher Education Department report that found evidence that Cooper was manipulative and surrounded himself with carefully chosen acolytes at the university.
Cooper said the report came towards the end of his tenure and the then minister had not acted on it.
“We decided not to take it on review because the minister decided not to rely on the report. It is unfortunate for me it stands out here,” he said.
Van Damme said he should have taken the matter on review “because for me this is major red flag”.
Van Damme’s colleague Veronica van Dyk quizzed Cooper on whether he used his anti-liberation credentials in his introduction to land the position on the board.
Cooper said: “I don’t wish to justify my existence.”
Van Dyk asked him about his election to a professional body for psychologists to which he said he was appointed by a former minister.
This prompted Van Dyk to raise concerns about political interference – which had been a problem at the SABC. “We need people who will not allow that,” she said.
Cooper said he would not allow himself to be in a position to be dominated by anybody. “I hold my own and frankly I enjoy that space. I won’t be a political pawn for anybody,” he said.
EFF’s Mbuyiseni Ndlozi asked about Cooper’s tenure at the University of Durban-Westville where he was accused by the SRC of replacing former dean of students Pitika Ntuli without due process. Cooper said he was not familiar with the SRC statement.