Chairperson, I am presenting the recommendation of the committee for the appointment of a Media Development and Diversity Agency, MDDA, board member, one of the most successful boards appointed by this committee through this Parliament. The record speaks for itself regarding their delivery and clean audit. The record speaks for itself regarding the number of community radio stations and the number of community print media we have in the country. The record speaks for itself regarding community television stations we have in the country, which is more than most of the other countries.
As a committee, we received a letter from the Minister in the Presidency: Performance Monitoring and Evaluation as well as Administration, which informed us that we need to embark on the process of filling a vacancy that has come as a result of the end of the term of Ms Nothando Migogo, with effect from 31 December 2013. As a committee, we did what we were supposed to do with regards to advertising, calling for the nominations for that particular position and we had received 19 nominations.
Upon receiving 19 nominations, we short-listed five candidates - Dr Adele Moodly, Mr Ratha Ramatlhape, Ms Nokuzola Ehrens, Ms Xoliswa Daku and Mr Jimmy Manyi. The committee interviewed the above-mentioned candidates on 6 and 7 March 2014 in an open meeting of Parliament, which, if members were interested in following the interviews, they could have done so.
Upon the finalisation of the interview, the committee deliberated regarding the appointment of a possible candidate. By the way, Mr Jimmy Manyi is serving on the MDDA Board as we speak. It is not that he is coming into the board; he is serving on the board as we speak. So, I don't know what you are shouting about, or whether you are shouting about Mr Manyi and so on. If you can just shut up a little bit so that I can finish. [Interjections.] I withdraw saying "shut up". Sit down.
Hon member, just continue.
I also don't appreciate the gesture.
I don't appreciate this also. After we held the interviews ... [Interjections.] ... I won't be ashamed that, as the African National Congress, deployed in this Parliament, if we want a mandate we go to Luthuli House. I won't be ashamed of that. Luthuli House is our headquarters, so what? If we want a mandate, we go to Luthuli House. Where is your headquarters? You go to your blue house, wherever it is. I go to Luthuli House for a mandate because I am not here in Parliament representing myself. I am here representing South Africans on behalf of the African National Congress; and its headquarters is in Luthuli House, on the corner of Sauer and President Street, where you marched to. [Interjections.] After the deliberations, the committee came with a recommendation and concluded that Mr Manyi is a suitable candidate to serve on the board. Thank you. [Applause.]
There was no debate.
Question put: That Mr Jimmy Manyi be recommended for appointment to the Media Development and Diversity Agency Board.
Declarations of vote:
Hon colleagues, once again the ANC members of the Portfolio Committee on Communications have chosen a down-on-his-luck crony to fill a vacancy on one of the government entities that reports to Parliament. The two best candidates we interviewed, who were short-listed by all parties on the committee, were not even seriously considered by the ANC, proving once again that the multiparty selection process is a farce.
While Mr Manyi has a good knowledge of the MDDA, he demonstrated no passion or empathy for the struggling community media environment in which the entity operates. He had no practical experience of working with small community-based groups, mostly in rural areas, who struggle to give voice to their communities.
His tenure on the board will, no doubt, be driven by three ambitions: To use the networks of community media as propaganda tools for President Zuma's ANC government; to interfere with and disrupt the mainstream print media under the guise of print media transformation; and to drive the ANC's desire for a media tribunal in an attempt to bully journalists to come around to its way of thinking and threaten media freedom.
The nurturing of the committee media to ensure the sustainability of fledging enterprises that reflect the views, culture and issues of their markets, will not be high on his agenda. Mr Manyi's track record in Public Service is hardly exemplary. He was suspended from his post as Director- General of Labour after a diplomat objected to the content of a conversation between them. Is this appropriate conduct for a desirable board member who should be above reproach? His tenure as Cabinet spokesman was high profile for all the wrong reasons. His confrontational approach to those who failed to agree with his views or comply with his agenda eventually led to his unemployment once his contract was up. He does not have the leadership calibre to persuade independent minded people to his cause.
He is a passionate supporter of breaking up or at least changing ownership of mainstream media, particularly those perceived to be anti-ANC. While the media landscape needs greater diversity, surely rapidly changing technology and market dynamics are being far more effective change agents than any heavy-handed approach of government fixated on transforming history.
Once again, the ANC has not chosen a candidate who is the best fit for purpose, but a crony who will toe the party line and pursue its narrow agenda of centralised control. The DA objects to Jimmy Manyi's appointment to the MDDA Board. [Applause.]
Asizibongele Mgcinisihlalo weNdlu, ngifisa ukusho ukuthi bekungasimangaza uma ngabe besivumelana nalaba abangapha kwesandla sami. Ngiphinde ngisho ukuthi kuningi ekusafanele sikufunde siyizakhamuzi zaseNingizimu Afrika. Akusho ukuthi uma sithi naba abantu abasohlwini abazibeka bona ukuthi babe sebhodini ye-MDDA. Uma sivumelana ngamagama athile akusho ukuthi uma sesihlezi nabo sixoxisana nabo sekuyoba njalo. Akukaze kushiwo kanjalo. Ngiyakweshwama nje lokho.
Angiqale ngokuthi umhlonishwa obesanda kusuka lapha othe uMnumzane Manyi, ngokokusebenza kwakhe usebenza ezingeni eliphezulu kakhulu. Akukho okunye obekumkhathaza ngaphandle kwalokho, kodwa okunye angakushongo ukuthi vele laba abangapha kwesandla sami uma ngabe amaqiniso esekhulunywa ngabantu abamele umphakathi waseNingizimu Afrika bayoba nenkinga. Lokhu ngikusho ngoba ngiqonde ukuthi uMnu Manyi lo esimncomayo kule Ndlu ehloniphekileyo sithi makabe ebhodini le-MDDA. Uzibonakalisile khona belu ngokuqinisekisa ukuthi kuba noguquko lokuthi labo abakade bevaleleke ngaphandle ezintweni, embusweni kanye nasemnothweni, manje sebekhona ekulawuleni leli lizwe futhi bahlahla indlela. Ngisho ukuthi kuqinisekisiwe ukuthi amaphepha la esiwafundayo ingxenye enkulu yakhona uhulumeni uyinikeza amaphepha asemiphakathini yethu esiyibiza phecelezi community print media.
Ngiqhubeke ngithi unolwazi olunzulu, olusabalele futhi olunothile - alusabalele nje lunganothile - ekuqondeni ukuthi imiphakathi yethu kwezamaphepha, nemisakazo nomabonakude yini eyidingayo. Uma ngabe sesibungaza iminyaka eyishumi nambili sisembusweni wenkululeko yentando yeningi, uMnu uManyi uzoqinisekisa ukuthi le ndaba esithi yinhle mayixoxwe izwe lonke lingufakazi ... SinguKhongolose siyaleseka igama likaMnumzane uManyi. Ngiyabonga. [Kwaphela isikhathi.] (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Ms M R LESOMA: We thank you, House Chairperson. I wish to say that it would have been a surprise if we agreed with the opposition. Let me say this again and that is that there's a lot which we must learn as the citizens of South Africa. It doesn't mean that if we say these are the people who are on the list, they nominated themselves to be on the MDDA Board. If we agree on certain names, it doesn't mean that if we meet with them, they will automatically be on the Board. It was never said like that. This is news to me.
Let me start by saying that the hon member who has just left, said that Mr. Manyi, as far as his work profile is concerned, usually holds high profile positions. Nothing else bothered the hon member, but what the hon member didn't mention was the fact that indeed the opposition, if the truth be told by the people who represent South Africans, will always have a problem. I'm saying this because I wish to state that it is Mr Manyi who we recommend in this august House to serve on the MDDA Board. He presented himself very well by ensuring that there's a change for those who were deprived of opportunities in government and in the economy. They are now part of the government of this country and they are also leading. What I mean is that it is confirmed in the newspapers we read that the government is giving a big part of them to our community print media.
Let me continue by saying that he has vast knowledge and a wealth of experience - not just broad without being rich in understanding - in respect of what our communities need regarding newspapers, radios and television. When we celebrate the twenty years of democracy, Mr Manyi will ensure that the good story is told and that the whole country witnesses that ... The ANC supports the name of Mr Manyi. Thank you. [Time expired.]]
Question agreed to (Democratic Alliance, Independent Democrats, Freedom Front Plus and Inkatha Freedom Party dissenting).
Mr Jimmy Manyi accordingly recommended for appointment to the Media Development and Diversity Agency Board.