Short-listing of candidates to be interviewed for vacancies on the SABC Board & ICASA Council

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Communications and Digital Technologies

28 August 2012
Chairperson: Mr G Schneemann (ANC) (Acting)
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Meeting Summary

The Committee had appointed a task team to consider applications for the vacant positions on the Board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation and the Council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa and to compile a short-list of candidates for interview.  During a previous meeting, the Committee had decided to limit the number of short-listed candidates to five for the single vacancy in the SABC Board and to fifteen for the three vacancies on the ICASA Council.

The Committee agreed to increase the number of short-listed candidates for the SABC Board to six, as proposed by the task team. During the meeting, a Member from the ANC proposed the inclusion of two additional candidates in the short-list of fourteen proposed by the task team for the ICASA Council. Members from the DA and COPE objected to increase the number of candidates on the short-list during the meeting rather than during the process followed by the task team.  After some debate, the name of one additional candidate was withdrawn and agreement was reached to include the other additional applicant in the short-list of candidates.

The Committee adopted the reports on the short-listing of candidates for interview for the SABC Board and the ICASA Council.  The names of the short-listed candidates would be published and the candidates would be interviewed by the Committee on 4 to 7 September 2012.  The written reports on the security clearance of the candidates were outstanding and had to be received by the Committee before the nomination process was finalised. 

The Committee adopted the amended Committee programme for the period 24 August 2012 to 18 September 2012.

Meeting report

Adoption of amended Committee programme for 3rd quarter 2012
The Committee programme for the third term was amended. Interviews with the short-listed candidates for the vacancy on the Board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) were scheduled for 4 September 2012.  Interviews with the short-listed candidates for the three vacancies on the Council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) were scheduled for 5, 6 and 7 September 2012.

Ms J Killian (COPE) and Ms M Shinn (DA) asked by which date Members had to submit their recommended candidates to the Committee.

Mr A Steyn (DA) pointed out that the list of short-listed candidates had to be published at least three days before interviews could take place.  Security clearances for the candidates had to be finalised before the interviews.

The Chairperson advised that the deadline would be met if the Committee agreed on the short-listed candidates on 28 August 2012.  He understood that progress had been made with the security clearance of candidates.  He had discussed the matter with the responsible Parliamentary section but formal confirmation was still awaited.  He suggested that the short-listing of candidates was proceeded with.

Ms Killian said that the delay in receiving the security clearances was discussed by the task team appointed by the committee to consider the applications.  The process of short-listing the candidates had to be finalised as soon as possible and the delay was not acceptable.  The process should have been finalised a week ago and the delay had an adverse impact on the entities concerned.  She suggested that the Committee raised its concern with the Speaker and the Chairperson of Committees. 

Ms M Lesoma (ANC) suggested that the Committee noted the delay in receipt of the security clearances and proceeded with the short-listing of candidates.

Ms Shinn asked how much time would be allowed to interview each short-listed candidate.

The Chairperson advised that 1 to 1 ½ hours would be allowed to interview each candidate.  The Committee adopted the amended programme for the period 24 August – 18 September 2012.

Short-listing of candidates for the Board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)
There was one vacancy on the Board of the SABC.

Ms Lesoma said that the applications needed to be considered in accordance with the provisions in the SABC Act and in the light of the current composition of the Board.  The Board currently lacked expertise in the areas of finance and the broadcasting industry.  The ANC proposed that Ms Noluthando Primrose Gosa, Mr Tinyiko Norman Baloyi, Mr Gabriel Lucky Bokaba and Mr Aaron Tshidzumba be short-listed.

Ms Shinn advised that the DA proposed the short-listing of Ms Gosa.

Ms Killian suggested that the Committee considered all six candidates short-listed by the task team.  COPE nominated Mr Johannes Colin Weapond and Mr Mzimkhulu Bongani Caga for short-listing.

Ms Lesoma and Ms R Morutoa (ANC) pointed out that the Committee had agreed in a previous meeting that the short-list for the SABC Board would be limited to five candidates. The task team list comprised six candidates.

The Chairperson agreed that the previous decision of the Committee needed to be amended.

 

Ms Morutoa proposed that the number of short-listed candidates be increased to six.

 

Ms Killian seconded the proposal.

Ms Killian advised that the task team had queried the validity of the nomination of Mr Tshidzumba.

The Chairperson explained that the nomination letter had been signed electronically. The nominator was requested to re-submit the letter of nomination with a proper signature. The signed letter was subsequently received with no other alteration.

The Committee, having considered candidates who submitted their CVs for appointment to serve on the SABC Board in terms of the Broadcasting Act, No 4 of 1999, agreed to short-list the following six candidates:

Mr Tinyiko Norman Baloyi
Mr Gabriel Lucky Bokaba
Mr Mzimkhulu Bongani Caga
Ms Noluthando Primrose Gosa
Mr Aaron Tshidzumba
Mr Johannes Collin Weapond

The interviews were scheduled to take place on 4 September 2012.

Short-listing of candidates for the Council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)
There were three vacancies on the Council of ICASA.  The Chairperson asked a member of the task team to present the list of short-listed candidates.

Ms Killian advised that the following candidates were short-listed by the task team for the ICASA Council:
Ms Botlenyana Mokhele
Ms Katharina Gloria Shirley Pillay
Mr Ashraf Patel
Mr Phatang Nkhereanye
Mr Thabo Makhakhe
Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi
Mr Aaron Tshidzumba
Ms Josephine Kwena Mabotja
Ms Nomonde Gongxeka
Mr Manyara Rubben Mohlaloga
Mr Ronald Jarvie Seeber
Mr Mpho Mosimane
Mr Tinyiko Norman Baloyi
Ms Nomveliso Ntanjana
Two of the short-listed candidates had completed their first term of office on the ICASA Council but were eligible for serving for a second term.  The other twelve candidates were new nominations.

Ms Morutoa confirmed that the task team had agreed on the list of candidates.  The team had considered the skills of the applicants and felt that the two candidates eligible for re-appointment to the Council had valuable experience.

Ms W Newhoudt-Druchen (ANC) asked the Committee to consider adding Mr Khulile Boqwana and Ms Soma to the short-list.

Ms Killian understood that the Committee had previously agreed on the number of short-listed candidates.  The proposal to increase the number of short-listed candidates should have been dealt with by the task team.

Ms Lesoma pointed out that the task team reported to the Committee.  She did not consider increasing the number of short-listed candidates to be problematic and felt that the Committee should discuss the proposal to add additional names to the list.

Ms Shinn remarked that the ANC had agreed to remove Ms Soma from the short-list proposed by the task team as she did not have the necessary qualifications.  The Committee had agreed that no more than 15 candidates would be short-listed for the vacant positions on the ICASA Council.  She was opposed to adding the name of Ms Soma to the list.

Ms Morutoa said that the task team could only make recommendations.  The final decision rested with the Committee.  She suggested that Ms Newhoudt-Druchen motivated her proposal, which should be considered by the Committee.

Mr Steyn said that the Committee had thoroughly debated the limitation of short-listed candidates.  The task team was given a mandate to consider all the applications received and to propose a short-list for interview.  The Committee would set a dangerous precedent if the recommendations of the task team were overridden.  He was not averse to increasing the number of candidates to 15, as was previously agreed.

Ms Newhoudt-Druchen pointed out that the Committee had agreed to increase the number of candidates for the SABC Board from five to six.  She understood that the Committee had previously agreed to limit the nominations for the ICASA Council to 15 candidates.  The Curriculum Vitae of a candidate did not necessarily reflect the skills of the applicant.  She felt that applicants should be allowed the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in an interview.

Ms Killian pointed out that 39 applications were received for the vacant posts on the ICASA Council.  The task team had to consider the CV’s of candidates during the elimination process.  She was not convinced by the argument that candidates would fare better in an interview.  She would consider the proposal to add one additional candidate to the short-list but was not happy that the recommendation of the task team was altered subsequently in a Committee meeting.  She felt that the proposal by the ANC to nominate additional candidates created distrust.

Ms Lesoma reiterated her earlier position on the role of the task team and the Committee and on the number of candidates.  It was more important to consider the skills of the candidates.  She disagreed that Ms Soma lacked the necessary qualifications for the position, which were acceptable in accordance with the legislative provisions.
Ms Morutoa objected to the statement that the ANC could not be trusted.

The Chairperson clarified that the task team was mandated to present a short-list of candidates for interview.  The Committee would decide on the final short-list.  Members of the Committee were entitled to propose the addition of other candidates and the Committee would decide if the proposal would be accepted.

Mr Steyn agreed that Members could propose that other candidates were added to the list submitted by the task team.  However, there was good reason for limiting the number of short-listed candidates unless the additional candidates had exceptional skills.

Ms Killian recalled that the concept of appointing a task team to consider applications for vacant positions was established by a previous Chairperson of the Committee at the time when the appointment of members of the SABC Board was criticised as being overly politicized.  It would have been preferable if the proposal to add names to the short-list was made to the task team.  She questioned the appointment of a task team if the party with the majority Members on the Committee was allowed to nominate additional candidates not agreed to by the task team.

Ms Shinn remarked that it was preferable if the parties submitted lists of preferred candidates, which could have been negotiated and agreed in good faith.  One of the additional candidates was eliminated from the recommended short-list, only to be added at a later stage.  She felt that this practice discredited the entire process.

Members did not alter their positions during subsequent discussions but eventually agreed to add Mr Khulile Boqwana to the short-list of candidates for the ICASA Council.  Ms Newhoudt-Druchen withdrew her proposal to add Ms Soma to the list.  Mr Steyn suggested that the list of candidates were published in alphabetical order.

The Chairperson read the Committee reports on the short-listing of candidates for the SABC Board and for the ICASA Council.  The Committee adopted the reports, without amendment.

Mr Steyn added the proviso that the Committee must be in possession of the security clearances for the candidates before the nomination process was finalised.  The Chairperson agreed to follow up with the responsible Parliamentary officer.

Ms Shinn asked if a Member was eligible for voting for the final nominations if the Member was not able to attend the interviews.  The Chairperson agreed to check the Rules of Parliament.

The meeting was adjourned.

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