Committee report adoption: Appointment of Members to the ICASA Council, shortlisting of candidates for SABC Board

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Communications and Digital Technologies

16 February 2016
Chairperson: Ms D Tsotetsi (ANC) (Acting)
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Meeting Summary

The Portfolio Committee on Communications met to adopt two reports.

The first report, which was unanimously adopted, noted that the Committee had presented a shortlist of seven candidates to fill the three vacancies on the Council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the Minister of Communications had approved four out of the shortlist of seven candidates.

The Committee then considered the report of the sub-Committee of the Portfolio Committee which had met earlier that morning to deliberate on the shortlisting of candidates for the three vacancies on the SABC Board. A list of 58 names had been submitted to Parliament. Members of the subCommittee had drawn up a shortlist of nine names: K Mayisela, Prof Phendla, K Mbokazi, F Maswanganyi, J Irish-Qhobosheane, M M Mulaudzi, O Siphuka, O Matshoba, Prof Gumbi and M Jones. The majority of the Committee adopted the Report with an objection noted by the DA, who raised objections to the list on the basis of a lack of properly qualified candidates. The Acting Chairperson noted the objection but confirmed that a democratic process had been followed in making the shortlist. Comment was also made on the fact that the list of candidates was predominantly male.
 

Meeting report

Election of Acting Chairperson
The Committee unanimously nominated Ms D Tsotesti (ANC) as the Acting Chairperson in the absence of Ms J Moloi-Moropa (ANC).

Adoption of minutes
The Acting Chairperson addressed the meeting and asked Members to unanimously agree upon the agenda, given that it had not been sent out.

She noted that the first item related to adoption of minutes. The Committee had met on 2 February 2016 to discuss matters that were not fully disclosed to the public. The Acting Chairperson asked the present Members  to read through the minutes and highlight any discrepancies.

Members confirmed the adoption of the minutes.

Committee Report on the Appointment of members to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Council
The Acting Chairperson read out the Committee's draft Report, on the appointment of three members to the Council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), following the resignation of three of the members.

She noted that after deliberations by this Committee, the Minister of Communications had approved four out of the shortlist of seven candidates that the Committee had presented. The Committee received a letter regarding the approval of the four candidates, and the Acting Chairperson asked whether there was any objection to the final list.

Ms P Van Damme (DA) replied that the list had been unanimously adopted and approved by the Committee.

Members adopted the report unanimously.

Committee Report on the Shortlisting of Candidates for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Board
The Acting Chairperson indicated that there were three vacancies on the SABC Board. The Committee had met that morning to shortlist nine out of the 58 candidates to fill the vacancies. She noted that in such processes, some Members may prefer the qualifications of certain nominees over others, but that no exclusions were proposed from those who had been identified as compatible with the skills and requirements.

Ms P Van Damme mentioned that the DA was not happy with the lack of diversity in the list of short-listed candidates. She pointed out that there were not enough qualified candidates and DA’s reservations upon the matter had been made clear.

The Acting Chairperson responded by pointing out that 99% of the candidates had been male which highlighted a very important issue on transformation. She mentioned that this situation should be corrected in the future.

The Acting Chairperson asked the Committee Secretary to read out the names of the nine shortlisted candidates.

The Committee Secretary firstly read out a report from the earlier meeting on 16 February 2016 and then proceeded to list the candidates as follows;

K Mayisela, Prof Phendla, K Mbokazi, F Maswanganyi, J Irish-Qhobosheane, M M Mulaudzi, O Siphuka, O Matshoba, Prof Gumbi and M Jones.

The Report was approved and adopted by the majority of the Committee, with the DA Member indicating that the DA was rejecting the Report.

The Acting Chairperson responded to DA’s objection by acknowledging the potential, ability and diversity of all candidates and reminding the Committee that the selection of names to the shortlist had followed a democratic process.

The meeting was adjourned .

 

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