Interviews of candidates for Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board

Meeting report

Interviews of candidates for MDDA Board
The following questions were asked to the short-listed candidates:

●Candidates were asked what their was understanding of the MDDA Act and how it complied with the Constitution of South Africa. They were also asked about their understanding of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and, the King Codes of Governance Principles.
●Candidates were asked why they taught they were the best candidate to be appointed to the Board and what they were bringing to the MDDA in terms of their skills especially looking at issues of disability within the MDDA.
●Candidates were asked to explain their experience with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and what active participation they had in the media whether through their own small media organisations or being involved in mainstream media houses.
●They were asked how smaller emerging community media (electronic and print) should be funded- should they be funded by government or should they register as non-profit organization or raise money through charitable donations?
●Candidates were asked to explain how they viewed the funding model of the MDDA. Was the funding sufficient and how would they ensure sustainability.
●Candidates were asked whether their political affiliation and political contestation would hinder them from performing their duties professionally, and how they would deal with it.
●They were asked whether they would have enough time to give their undivided attention to the MDDA Board since some of them held directorships from other companies.
●They were asked if the MDDA was at the right place considering that there was also the Government Communications Information Services (GCIS) which was also part of Government and was not utilising the services of the Portfolio Committee.
●Candidates were asked whether in terms of their research on mass media whether they had identified any mass media model which was better practised in the world which could be implemented in South Africa.
●They were asked what was meant by diversity because as a country there was a measure which could be used to measure this. When as a country could it say it had achieved media diversity, and which indicators showed that the country was moving in a particular direction to achieve diversity?
●They were asked about how media plurality could be protected in the country.
●Candidates were to explain whether the MDDA was giving enough support to local community media, electronic or print, so as to ensure their sustainability, and if appointed to the Board how they would ensure the sustainability of community media projects.
●They were asked to explain what were the biggest challenges faced by local community media at the moment.
●Candidates were asked how they felt about the performance of the individual members of the MDDA Board, and what would be their expectations of the management of the MDDA.
●They were asked what they would do to ensure rural communities received information.
●They were asked to explain the strength and weaknesses of MDDA, and what they would do to improve the organisation.
●Candidates were asked what inhibited the MDDA from carrying out its mandate and how they would rectify this.
●They were asked to explain their understanding of the functions of MDDA, and how they would improve the role of the agency if appointed to the Board.
●They were asked if there was anything or any conflict of interests that would disqualify them to be considered for the MDDA Board.
●Candidates were asked what they would do to ensure corporate governance at the MDDA, and how would they ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the MDDA Board.
●They were asked how they felt about the independence of MDDA and its role as an institution.

Refer to audio recording for responses.