Tshabalala lied in sworn affidavit, says DA

The DA on Thursday (04/12/2014) laid a charge of perjury against SABC board chairwoman Ellen Tshabalala.

"This follows [Parliament's] communications portfolio committee's finding yesterday [Wednesday] that Tshabalala lied about her qualifications in a sworn affidavit," Democratic Alliance MP Gavin Davis said in a statement.

The affidavit had been submitted to Parliament as part of Tshabalala's application for a position on the SABC board. It was signed at the Sandton police station in Johannesburg on July 23 last year.

In it, Tshabalala had sworn that her house was broken into and items stolen, among them all her academic records, and for this reason she had been unable to provide such credentials in her application.

However, the committee heard on Wednesday that the academic records and certificates referred to in Tshabalala's affidavit did not exist.

"Tshabalala therefore lied when she stated in a sworn affidavit that these documents were stolen," Davis said.

The DA trusted the SA Police Service would treat the criminal charge with the seriousness it warranted.

"This will send out a signal that qualifications fraud will not be tolerated at the SABC or anywhere else," he said. - Sapa