Shortlisting of candidates

National Youth Development Agency appointments

07 December 2016
Chairperson: Mr M Mapulane (ANC) and Ms G Manopole (ANC, Northern Cape)
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Meeting Summary

The Committee at the outset of the meeting briefly discussed the matter of what the appropriate number of shortlisted candidates should be. Members were aware that there were only seven positions on the NYDA Board. The number of applications received for the seven positions totalled 487. The Committee in the end agreed that fourteen was a reasonable number given that only one day had been set aside for interviews. A guide setting out legislative criteria for members to use when evaluating candidates was circulated to members. The guide spoke about geographic spread, diversity, skills, gender and race that needed to be considered. Members did raise concern that the guide was very broad and even the NYDA Act was not specific. Would the Committee consider any other criteria? The Chairperson explained that the legal opinion from the Parliamentary Legal Services Office had specified what the Committee needed to do on the process in terms of the Act. If there was something that members wished to add then an amendment to the Act could be suggested in both the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). Each member present in the meeting proceeded to nominate a suitable candidate. As it worked out a total of fourteen candidates were nominated and shortlisted. Members were asked to elaborate on the credentials of the candidates that had been nominated. The shortlisted candidates would have to go through a security vetting process. Concern was also raised that none of the shortlisted candidates were white or coloured and that no candidates came from the Free State or Northern Cape Provinces. What about diversity in terms of geographic spread and race? The Chairperson clarified that the requirements that were set out were broad and not strict. It was also difficult to include candidates from all nine provinces as there were only seven positions on the NYDA Board. The Committee generally felt that it had followed the process as it should in terms of legislation. The Committee did its utmost to keep things as transparent as possible. 

Meeting report

Mr Mapulane as Co-Chairperson took the lead to chair the meeting.

Short listing of candidates for the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Board

Mr Y Cassim (DA) said that in its last meeting the Committee had agreed that the Curriculum Vitaes (CVs) of NYDA Board candidates would be sent to members. He complained that he had not received soft or hard copies of the CVs.

The Chairperson said that the issue of CVs had been dealt with as members who had requested them had received them. A summary of the list of candidates had been compiled by committee staff and had been sent to members some time back. A guide on the process for the shortlisting of candidates had also been distributed to members. He proposed that the Committee come up with a shortlist of 12 possible candidates. The list had to be of a manageable number so that interviews could be held in one single day.

Mr Cassim disagreed with the Chairperson’s proposal of 12 possible candidates. He felt that the Committee needed to do justice to the process. If there were seven posts on the NYDA Board how could only twelve candidates be shortlisted? The list of candidates should at least be double the amount of posts that needed to be filled. He proposed that 21 candidates be shortlisted.

Mr E Marais (DA) pointed out that if a total of 487 candidates had applied there should at least be 14 to 21 one candidates shortlisted.

Mr M Mohapi (ANC, FS) said that if seven posts were to be filled twelve was a reasonable number for the shortlisting of candidates. He gave the assurance that the Committee would do justice to the process.

Ms R Lesoma (ANC) stated that there was one day within which to conduct interviews and that given her experience in doing interviews twelve was a reasonable number for the shortlisting of candidates.  If needs be one or two candidates could be added to the list.

Mr S Mncwabe (NFP) pointed out that shortlisted candidates would have to go through security vetting. After the Committee received the report on the outcomes of the security vetting process the number of shortlisted candidates would be reduced. He supported the proposal that 14 candidates be shortlisted. He said that the larger the list the greater the stress for members to complete interviews within one day.

Mr B Mkongi (ANC) agreed that if the list of candidates was too huge then it would be stressful for the Committee to complete interviews within one day. He said that members had the applicants’ CVs and had the summarised list compiled by committee staff. He stated that 12 or 14 candidates were acceptable but that 21 one was too much.

Mr M Khawula (IFP, KwaZulu-Natal) did not have an issue with having 12 shortlisted candidates but called for flexibility to expand or decrease the list if needs be. The list could be increased or decreased by two candidates. 

The Chairperson said that the Committee was flexible enough to have a maximum of 14 candidates shortlisted.

The Committee was agreeable on 14 candidates being shortlisted.

The Chairperson said that members could nominate candidates from the list of 487 using the guide to make their choices. The guide set out the criteria to be used in choosing candidates.

Mr Cassim asked whether the Committee would not be using other criteria. The guide was very broad and even the NYDA Act was not specific.

The Chairperson said that the Committee’s Content Advisers had come up with the draft guidelines. The Committee had also received a legal opinion from the Parliamentary Legal Service Office. The legal opinion had specified what the Committee needed to undertake the process in terms of the Act. If there was something that members wished to add then an amendment to the Act could be suggested in both the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

Mr Cassim noted that the guidelines spoke about geographic spread, diversity, skills, gender, and race.

The Chairperson asked members to make nominations from the summarised numbered list of candidates that was before them. The guide was to be used to check if candidates met criteria in terms of skills profiles etc.  The following list was the nominations by members:

-Mr M Hlengwa (IFP) nominated Ms Zandile Majozi (No 384). Her highest qualification was matric and she possessed knowledge, skills and experience in strategic and leadership roles in various institutions. She was currently serving as a Non-Executive Board Member for the NYDA. She championed youth development programmes for young people. Mr Hlengwa said that Ms Majozi met the requirements.

-Mr Mncwabe nominated Ms Prudence Zandile Myeni (No 94). Her highest qualification was a Senior Secondary Teachers Diploma. Ms Myeni possessed knowledge, skills and experience in leadership and education in the public sector. She had previously participated in numerous youth structures such as the being part of the delegations on the Youth Parliament, the Women Parliament and the Youth Women in Dialogue. She had also participated in community structures. Mr Mncwabe said that her curriculum vitae met the checklist requirements.

-Ms N Mokoto (ANC) nominated Ms Khomotjo Joy Maimela (No 330). Her highest qualification was an NCV Level 4: Civil Engineering and Building. She was currently working as a chairlift operator at Glencore Mototolo Mine. She had also served as a Love Life Groundbreaker. Ms Mokoto felt that Ms Maimela had vast experience.

-Mr Marais nominated Mr Siyaduma Biniza (No 38). His highest qualification was a Masters in Commerce in Development Theory and Policy as well as a Bachelors of Social Science in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. He possessed knowledge, skills and extensive experience at senior management level specialising in economics in both the public and private sector. He had previously served on boards in the Independent Development Trust and the Caswill Body Corporate. He had also published a journal for the Biennial Conference for the Economic Society of South Africa. He was currently employed as a senior economist with the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) in National Treasury. Mr Marais felt that Mr Biniza’s experience in the public and private sector spoke for itself.

-Ms D Manana (ANC) nominated Mr Desmond Moela (No 304). His highest qualification was a Certificate in Supply Chain Management. He had served in various youth structures in the Mpumalanga Province. He had also previously served as a board member for Yinhlentfo Youth Development. He was at present working as a director in Human Resources Capacity at the Mpumalanga Department of Education.

-Mr B Mkongi (ANC) nominated Mr Ndumiso Thokozani Mokako (No 470). His highest qualification was a Bachelors of Commerce. He possessed skills, knowledge and experience in administration in the public sector. He was employed as a senior manager in the Office of the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Public Works in the Mpumalanga Province. He had also participated in youth structures aimed to develop young people.

-Mr M Mohapi (ANC, FS) nominated Mr Thembinkosi Josupu (No 423). His highest qualification was matric. He possessed skills, knowledge and experience in academics. He had previously worked as an admissions officer at the University of Cape Town and in numerous structures at the University. He had also participated in forums such as the establishment of the NYDA. Mr Mohapi felt that Mr Josupu had the necessary skills, experience and displayed good behaviour. Mr Josupu hailed from the Eastern Cape Province.

-Ms Z Ncitha (ANC, Eastern Cape) nominated Mr Yershen Pillay (No 345). His highest qualification was a Bachelors of Social Science in politics and economics. He had knowledge .skills and extensive experience in governance and leadership structures in various institutions including the public sector. He was currently the sitting Chairperson of the NYDA. He advised government on matters of youth development and strategic development for the NYDA in line with the mandate of the organisation.  Mr Pillay was based at times in both the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces.

-Co-Chairperson Ms G Manopole (ANC, Northern Cape) nominated Mr Sifiso John Mtsweni (No 341). His highest qualification was a short course in Small Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) Management and matric. He had experience in youth development related areas with a specific focus on politics, sport and economic development, especially on SMME development. He was currently employed at Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) as a business adviser. Mr Mtsweni was based at times in the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape Provinces.   

-The Chairperson nominated Mr Itiseng Kenneth Morolong (No 431). His highest qualification was matric. He had knowledge, skills and experience in leadership and governance matters in the public sector and politics. He was formerly the deputy chairperson of the NYDA responsible for monitoring the call centre and the relationship between supplier and strategy development in line with the mandate of the NYDA. The Chairperson felt that Mr Morolong already had experience serving on the NYDA Board.

Mr M Mhlanga (ANC, Mpumalanga) also nominated Mr Morolong. Mr Morolong hailed from the North West Province.

-Ms R Lesoma (ANC) nominated Ms Bavelile Gloria Hlongwa (No 413). Her highest qualification was a BSc in Chemical Engineering. She was currently employed at the University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Chemistry as a tutor and practicals’ demonstrator and had served on various youth and student related structures. Ms Lesoma felt that she met the criteria and had relevant experience and that Ms Hlongwa worked with young rural women.

-Mr M Khawula (IFP, KwaZulu-Natal) nominated Mr Andile Clifford Biyela (No 385). His highest qualification was a Bachelors of Science Honours. His skills experience was in local economic development, research and analysis, project management and coordination. He used to be an Student Representative Council (SRC) president and worked in municipalities. Mr Khawula said that Mr Biyela was also completing his PHD. He pointed out that the summary notes on Mr Biyela were somewhat different from what was set out in the curriculum vitae.

-Mr Cassim nominated Ms Zilondiwe Goge (No 441). Her highest qualification was a Bachelors in Arts (Psychology). She was currently the Treasurer General of the SRC at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and had led various societies and held leadership positions within the University community. Mr Cassim felt that Ms Goge met the requirements and had vast experience in community engagement. She hailed from the Eastern Cape Province.

-Mr S Jafta (AIC) nominated Mr Siyabonga Magadla (No 472). His highest qualification was a B Tech in journalism. He worked for the NYDA as Manager: Media Relations/Spokesperson. He had also served in the Secretariat of the Pan African Youth Union (PYU), a continental body aimed at championing youth development in Africa. Mr Jafta felt it useful that Mr Magadla was already employed at the NYDA and knew the organisation. Mr Magadla also had fourteen years experience in youth development.

The Chairperson pointed out that there was exactly fourteen candidates. All members present had participated by making nominations. He felt that it was a solid starting point. The CVs of candidates would shed more light on their respective credentials. He informed the Committee that the shortlisted candidates would go through security vetting. Candidates had diverse skills profiles.

Mr Cassim had concerns that there were no white or coloured candidates. He also felt that there were no candidates from the Free State and Northern Cape Provinces. What about diversity in terms of geographic spread and race?

The Chairperson noted that the process belonged to members. Members had made nominations and would be conducting interviews. He explained that the requirements were set out broadly and not strictly. There were only seven seats on the NYDA Board. It would also be difficult to include candidates from all nine provinces. He felt that members had done justice to the process. Candidates who were possibly up to the task had been selected. 

Ms Lesoma said that there were only seven seats on the NYDA Board and there were nine provinces. Everything the Committee did was in terms of the law. The Committee had done nothing wrong. The NYDA was a national board and not a provincial board. She noted that geographic spread was only one of the criteria.

The Chairperson felt that generally speaking the Committee was fine. Each member present had made a nomination.

Mr Cassim asked whether assistance would be given to indigent candidates who needed to travel to interviews.

The Chairperson stated that Parliament would assist candidates who needed it.

Mr Mohapi pointed out that all parties had participated in the process with the exception of the EFF. The EFF had not even forwarded an apology to the Committee for not attending the meeting.

Ms Manopole said that members must prepare themselves for interviews as it would be done in one day.

The Chairperson said that members needed to hit the ground running. He said that members needed to discuss amongst themselves the questions that would be asked and how the questions would be distributed amongst themselves. Members needed to be consistent with questions. He said that the Committee tried to do its best to keep the process as transparent as possible as it was a public process.

Mr Hlengwa agreed with the Chairperson that the process was a public process and that it must be kept as open as possible.

The Chairperson stated that Parliament was transparent after all.

Committee Minutes

Minutes dated the 8 November 2016 was adopted as amended. Minutes dated 9 and 28 November 2016 were also adopted unamended.

The meeting was adjourned.

 

 

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