SOUTH AFRICA JOHANNESBURG A fall from grace and three little words… December 21 2014 at 07:31am By Jovial Rantao Comment on this story Ellen Tshabalala has told some half-truths in her life. One of these has led to her spectacular fall from grace, writes Jovial Rantao.  Ellen Tshabalala has told some half-truths in her life. One of these has led to her spectacular fall from grace. But it was as she tumbled downwards that she spoke a little truth. And that truth was contained in three little words, three little magical words: “It’s not over.” Independent Media Tshabalala, who until Wednesday was chairwoman of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), was right. Ellen Tshabalala. File photo: Paballo Thekiso It’s not over and it shouldn’t be over. That she fell on her sword and got a letter thanking her for her “service” to the nation shouldn’t be the end of the matter. Far from it. This should be the beginning of the real process to hold her accountable and make her pay literally and figuratively for her sins. This is an occasion to show all and sundry what our attitude is towards lies and lack of accountability. South Africa needs to make an example of Tshabalala. This needs to happen because we are trying to build a dream nation. And this nation cannot be built on lies, fabrications and a lack of accountability. These lessons must be dispensed so that whoever occupies a high position, pulling in a huge wage packet, must realise that their party is over. It should dawn on them that their day of reckoning will come. There are lessons here for future generations who must know that there are no short cuts to success. That your lies do catch up with you and that if you are economical with the truth, you will be made to pay. Tshabalala lied to herself and to the nation. More importantly, she lied to a committee of the National Assembly. Not telling the truth to Parliament is a serious offence and there are laws in place to deal with people such as Tshabalala. One piece of small advice for her: Have coffee with your comrade Tony Yengeni, who will, over a cuppa, no doubt dispense some valuable advice. Yengeni was convicted in 2003 for the serious offence of defrauding Parliament. For his crime, Yengeni received a stinging sentence of four years. This conviction and sentence were upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeal and three years later Yengeni entered the prison gates to pay for his transgressions. So there is a legal precedent. The Presidency must be fingered here for not seizing the moment to send out a strong message to the nation that the leadership of this country – the highest office in the land – will not tolerate lies. While the silence of the Presidency in the past few months could be ascribed to respect for due process, its failure to pronounce on the misconduct of someone appointed by the president himself leaves much to be desired. Unisa, one of the world’s most reputable distance-learning institutions, also has reason to take action against Tshabalala, if only to clear its name and keep its reputation intact. In her final hour of desperation, Tshabalala accused the university of many things. Her accusations, unbelievable and perhaps laughable, would have inflicted reputational damage on an institution whose credentials in South Africa, Africa and the world have been unblemished. Unisa needs to take steps to compel her, at the very least, to apologise for not telling the truth about the institution and for defaming it. The SABC, which has for many years struggled with many reputational and credibility issues, did not need this drama from someone who was appointed to lead the institution into the future. The SABC must sue Tshabalala and recoup the money wasted on her desperate exercise in futility. She spent a mint hiring top lawyers to defend the indefensible. She wasted the broadcaster’s money. And the corporation should do all it can to recoup it. All of these must happen, not because we’re a vengeful nation, but because there are important lessons that must emerge from this charade. Tshabalala must be taught a lesson. Her lack of grace and humility call for this. These are the other little words she uttered this week, adding to the outrage. These were: “I am not sorry…” What a blatant cheek. What arrogance. It’s time for some basic lessons in honesty, accountability and humility. * Jovial Rantao is editor of the Sunday Independent. APP: PAUL TLHANKANA
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 06:36:29 +0000
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