Election of Chairpersons; Committee Programme

Meeting report

The Unit Manager of the Committee Section explained to members the steps taken to place adverts in newspapers for the vacancies on the National Youth Development Agency Board. Two adverts had so far been placed in national newspapers, one in English and the other in Afrikaans. Adverts in other languages would follow.

Election of Chairpersons
Before the voting commenced, members questioned whether there was a quorum and whether opposition parties were present at the meeting.

Mr Mkhize confirmed that there was a quorum both from the NCOP and the National Assembly and that two members from opposition parties were present.

Mr M Maine (ANC, North West) from the NCOP and Ms M Kubayi (ANC) from the National Assembly were elected as Co Chairpersons of the Committee and immediately assumed their duties.

Committee Programme
Amendments to the Committee Programme were made:
▪ Short listing of nominees and invitation of short listed nominees for interview was moved from 9 to 14 April. ▪ Publishing of short-listed candidates as required by legislation was to be carried out from 16 to 20 April.
▪ Deliberation on final names of short-listed candidates was slated for 20 to 24 April.
▪ Publishing of Committee Report in both Houses was slated for 25 April.
▪ Debate on the report was on 26 April, so that by 30 April, the President could confirm and announce the new Board members as the tenure of old Board members ended on 30 April.

Discussion

Mr J De Villiers (DA, Western Cape) asked for clarification from the Co Chairpersons on the legality of all actions carried out on behalf of the Committee, especially the adverts, prior to their election as Co Chairpersons. He noted that meetings slated for 16 to 20 April clashed with the provincial week meetings of the NCOP.

Mr Maine responded that the 16 to 20 April was slated for publishing of short-listed candidates, hence the Committee would not be sitting.

Ms Kubayi said that the adverts had good standing in terms of their legality as they had been published through the presiding officers, in the name of the Secretary to the Parliament as no chairperson for the Committee existed as at the time of publishing the advert.

Mr J Gunda (ID, Nothern Cape) stated that the amendments to the programme of the Committee were in order and recommended that it be adopted.

Mr S Makhubela (ANC) noted that though the programme may still be work in progress, it should nevertheless be adopted.

Mr N Bhanga (COPE) agreed with Mr Makhubela’s suggestion and suggested that the amended programme be circulated as quickly as possible amongst members to ensure members familiarise themselves with the programme. While he did not doubt the legality of the adverts, it would have helped if committee members had been given the opportunity to have input into the content of the adverts, as this was a critical element and the starting point of the Committee’s mandate.

Mr Z Mlengzana (COPE, Eastern Cape) asked if the Co Chairpersons would independently consider the ‘master list’ of applicants before coming up with the selected nominees or if this process would be included into the Committee Programme and carried out by all Members.

Ms Kubayi clarified that the number of CVs received would determine how long the short listing process would take, hence the Co Chairpersons may request permission from the chief whips and presiding officer of both houses to meet outside the normal time to consider the CVs if the need arose. She added that if the Committee had waited to meet before publishing the adverts, it would have been impossible to meet the deadlines outlined in the Committee Programme, hence the principal officers in the two houses decided to kick start the process.

Mr De Villiers said it would be expedient if it were stated in the proposed programme that the Committee condoned all actions taken on its behalf prior to its first meeting so as to forestall any future challenge.

The Committee Programme was adopted.

Ms Kubayi requested the Members to familiarise themselves with the relevant legislation before the selection of NYDA board members.

The meeting was adjourned.