Shouting matches in the board meetings
DISGRACED former SABC chairwoman Ellen Tshabalala has threatened to spill the beans and give the “real reasons” why Lulama Mokhobo quit as the broadcasting corporation’s chief executive.
Tshabalala, who is still scheduled to appear before parliament’s inquiry into the SABC board, told Sunday Times how Mokhobo had clashed with former board deputy chairwoman Noluthando Gosa.
Mokhobo told the inquiry this week that her main reason for leaving had been over the contract the SABC signed with MultiChoice. She claimed it was pushed through in her absence.
But Tshabalala, who had lied about holding a university degree, said there had been other “embarrassing” reasons for Mokhobo leaving.
“If I begin to reveal why she had to leave the SABC, she will be very embarrassed, and I don’t want to do that. That’s why we had an amicable departure. It’s not a media thing. I don’t want to create any media statements about personalities. I want to talk about the organisation. If I’m invited about that, I will do that,” said Tshabalala.
Mokhobo complained bitterly in parliament this week about how she was treated by Hlaudi Motsoeneng and how her complaints to the board were not taken seriously. She said she was shouted at in front of junior staff.
Mokhobo’s claim was a “blatant lie”, said Tshabalala.
“She was fighting with deputy chair Noluthando Gosa. And I warned her: you are not going to be shouting in the board meeting. They were fighting all the time, they were at loggerheads and I said no,” said Tshabalala.
Gosa would not be drawn, saying only: “I’m not sure if I’m interested in anything Ellen says. I really am not.”