House Chairperson, hon members, indeed, Minister Gigaba, you should not get worried, because I am not dissolving any board. I am just here on behalf of the portfolio committee on communication since we received an indication from the President that one of the board members resigned in November last year.
As a committee we advertised, calling for nominations from the public to nominate a suitable person to serve on the board. We received 11 nominations and subsequently we short-listed five of those candidates. Seeing that we have eight men and three women on the SABC board, it would be preferable if the candidate were a woman in order to address the lack of balance in terms of gender on the board.
We had short-listed Ms Leah Khumalo, Ms Vuyelwa Qinga-Vika, Ms Chose Choeu, Ms Ntombenhle Khathwane and Mr R B Sekgala. After deliberations in the committee it came down to two candidates: Ms Leah Khumalo and Ms Ntombenhle Khathwane. Indeed, they were both very capable women and as parties we debated around the two names. Finally, the committee recommended that Ms Leah Khumalo be appointed to fill the vacancy on the SABC board.
However, before I ask the House to approve the recommendation of the committee, we want to place on record that, as a committee, over the time dealing with the SABC board, we also feel that the information and communication technology, ICT, policy review process must also look at the process of the appointment of the SABC board and the clarification of roles between the executive within the SABC and that of the Minister in relation to SABC board issues. With that in mind, I therefore request this House to approve the appointment of Ms Leah Khumalo to serve on the SABC board. I thank you.
There was no debate.
Question put: That Ms Leah Thabisile Khumalo be recommended for appointment to the board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
Declarations of vote: