SABC, ICASA & MDDA Vacancies: reports on shortlisted candidates for interviews

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Communications and Digital Technologies

01 September 2021
Chairperson: Mr B Maneli (ANC)
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Meeting Summary

Tabled Committee Reports

The Committee convened virtually to adopt three Committee reports on the shortlisting of candidates to interview for vacancies on the boards of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) and Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA). The interviews would start on Friday.

Meeting report

The Chairperson welcomed Members to what he called “urgent” meeting and thanked Members for making the short notice. The Committee needed to meet to adopt the reports on the shortlisting of candidates to interview for vacancies on the boards of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) and Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA). The interviews would start on Friday.

Interim report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the filling of a vacancy in the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Board

Mr Thembinkosi Ngoma, Committee Secretary, presented the report.

The Committee received a letter on the 22 July informing the National Assembly of the resignation of Ms Bernedette Muthien from the Board of the SABC and requesting the National Assembly to recommend, in accordance with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act, 1999 (Act No 4 of 1999), a suitable candidate to fill the above- mentioned vacancy for the unexpired portion of the period for which the vacating member had been appointed.

The Committee considered the letter from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies and resolved that the Secretariat should proceed with the process of publishing an advertisement in the media calling for the nomination of persons to fill a vacancy in the SABC Board. The advertisement was published in all 11 South African official languages in two national newspapers, two regional newspapers and seven community media newspapers. 69 nominations were received. 

The Committee met to consider the criteria and skills required to fill the vacancy, and unanimously resolved that the following six candidates be shortlisted for interviews:

  1. Mr Mpho Tsedu;
  2. Dr Nombeko Mbava;
  3. Ms Nalini Maharaj;
  4. Ms Barbara Sangweni;
  5. Dr Rene Horne
  6. Ms Senamile Masango.

A Subcommittee of the Portfolio Committee on Communications will proceed with the interviews of the shortlisted candidates on Friday, 3 September 2021 and make recommendations to the Committee, which will report to the National Assembly with its recommendations once qualification and security verifications have been concluded.

Interim report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the filling of two vacancies on the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board

The Committee Secretary presented the report

A letter dated 26 May 2020 was received from the Minister in the Presidency informing the National Assembly of the expiry of terms of office of Dr Nombeko Mbava and Ms Martina Della-Togna on the Board of the MDDA in October 2020; and requesting the National Assembly to initiate the process to fill the vacancies in terms of the Media Development and Diversity Agency Act, 2002 (Act No 14 of 2002).

The Committee considered the letter from the Minister in the Presidency and resolved that the Secretariat should proceed with the process of publishing an advertisement in the media calling for the nomination of persons to fill the two vacancies on the MDDA Board. The advertisement was published in all 11 official languages in two national newspapers, two regional newspapers and seven community media newspapers. 56 nominations were received. 

On 1 September 2021, the Committee met to consider the criteria and skills required to fill the two vacancies. The Committee unanimously resolved that the following 13 candidates be shortlisted for interviews:

  1. Ms Martina Della-Togna;
  2. Dr Nombeko Mbava;
  3. Ms Carol Mohlala;
  4. Mr Luzuko Buku,
  5. Ms Blaise Koetsie;
  6. Mr Lionel Adendorf;
  7. Mr Louis Seeco;
  8. Mr Ryland Fisher;
  9. Mr Phosa Mashangoane;
  10. Prof Siyasanga Tyali;
  11. Ms Nalini Maharaj;
  12. Mr Masimene Lesiba;
  13. Ms Amantle Mokubung.

A Subcommittee of the Portfolio Committee on Communications will proceed with the interviews of the shortlisted candidates on Friday, 3 September 2021 and make recommendations to the Committee, which will report to the National Assembly with its recommendations once qualification and security verifications have been concluded.

Interim report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the filling of four vacancies in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Council

The Committee Secretary presented the report  

A letter was received from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies informing the National Assembly of the resignation, with immediate effect, of Mr Zolani Kgosie Matthews, a councillor on the Council of ICASA. In addition to the resignation of Mr Matthews, the Minister informed the Speaker of the terms of office of three other councillors that would expire on 20 September 2021 (Ms Palesa Kadi), 25 September 2021 (Adv Dimakatso Qocha) and 31 January 2022 (Ms Thembeka Semane), respectively. The Minister requested the Speaker to initiate the recruitment process in terms of section 5(1) of the ICASA Act, to fill a vacancy that had arisen as a result of a resignation and the vacancies that would arise on the expiry of the terms of office of the three ICASA councillors.

The Committee considered the letters from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies and resolved that the Secretariat should proceed with the process of publishing an advertisement in the media calling for the nomination of persons to fill the four vacancies in the ICASA Council. The advertisement was published in all 11 South African official languages in two national newspapers, two regional newspapers and seven community media newspapers. The Committee received 71 nominations but considered only 69 nominations during shortlisting following the withdrawal of Ms Abongile Mashele and Mr Lumko Mtimde from the nomination process.

On 1 September 2021, the Committee met to consider the criteria and skills required to fill the four vacancies and unanimously resolved that the following 23 candidates be shortlisted for interviews:

  1. Mr Edmund Baloyi;
  2. Ms Dikeledi Mushi;
  3. Mr Demetrios Martinis;
  4. Ms Palesa Legoze;
  5. Ms Caroline Macharia;
  6. Mr Mpho Tsedu;
  7. Adv Dimakatso Qocha;
  8. Dr Natalie Skeepers;
  9. Mr Charles Mabuza;
  10. Ms Rossana Gell;
  11. Mr Ashraf Patel;
  12. Ms Thabisa Faye; Ms
  13. Ntombiza Sithole;
  14. Mr Musa Sello;
  15. Ms Sesethu Gqomo;
  16. Dr Pulane Molokwane;
  17. Ms Thembeka Semane;
  18. Mr Leon Louw;
  19. Ms Keletso Lefothane;
  20. Ms Nompucuko Nontombana;
  21. Ms Nokwanda Mathenjwa;
  22. Mr Thabo Makhakhe
  23. Dr Olwethu Sipuka.

A Subcommittee of the Portfolio Committee on Communications will proceed with the interviews of the shortlisted candidates on 7, 8 and 10 September 2021 and make recommendations to the Committee, which will report to the National Assembly with its recommendations once qualification and security verifications have been concluded.

Discussion

The Chairperson expressed that the subcommittees have deviated from the agreed number of five per vacancy. This was done to ensure inclusivity in a way that can address the principles to be considered regarding gender, race, youth and diversity of skills. There will then be a larger pool of candidates to select from.  

Each of the reports were adopted.

Mr Ngoma said the SABC and MDDA interviews will commence on 3 September 2021. The SABC interviews will take place at 13h00 where six candidates will be interviewed. Thereafter the MDDA interviews will take place – this might run late into the night given the number of candidates to be interviewed. The other option was to defer some of the interviews to another day. This will be discussed on 3 September 2021.

The Chairperson thanked the Committee staff as they prepare for the interviews.

The Chairperson asked Members to refresh their minds of the skills needed to fill the vacancies as they will be approaching interviews and looking at the demographics of gender, race, and the youth.

The Chairperson thanked the Members for their commitment and for meeting the mandate to build government structures that can discharge their duties and responsibilities.

The meeting was adjourned.

 

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