SABC Board interviews: deliberations & recommendations; MDDA Board: Interviews, deliberations and recommendations

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Communications and Digital Technologies

05 September 2017
Chairperson: Mr H Maxegwana (ANC)
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Meeting Summary

The Committee deliberated on the outcome of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Board interviews and nominated 12 candidates for appointment to the Board. The Committee Report on process of the appointment of the Board was not unanimously agreed to however - the DA, EFF and COPE objected to the nomination of some candidates that the ANC had put forward.

The 12 nominated SABC Board members were Mr Michael Markovitz, Mr Mathata Tsedu, Ms Khanyisile Kweyama, Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi, Ms Rachel Kalidass, Mr Victor Rambau, Mr Jack Phalane, Mr John Matisson, Mr Dinkwanyane Mohuba, Mr Krish Naidoo, Ms Febe Potgieter-Gqubule and Mr Bongumusa Makhathini.

The Committee then conducted interviews of shortlisted candidates for the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board. Members then deliberated on the interviews of the shortlisted candidates and decided to nominate Mr Ronald Lamola, Ms Martina Della-Togna and Ms Nombeko Mbava. The DA and COPE, however, objected to the nomination of Mr Lamola.

Meeting report

Opening remarks

The Chairperson, after welcoming those present, requested a minute of silence for the former ANC Youth League Secretary General, Mr Sindiso Mgaqa, who recently passed away in KwaZulu-Natal after gunshot injuries sustained in July 2017.

The Chairperson informed Members that the Committee Report on the Process of Nominating Candidates to serve on the Board of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) would be tabled in the National Assembly on 6 September 2017.

The Committee would begin with interviews of shortlisted candidates for the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board and would thereafter deliberate on candidates interviewed for both the SABC and MDDA Boards.

It was noted that four candidates shortlisted for the SABC Board had judgments against their names – these candidates were Mr Michael Bauer, Mr Tshifhiwa Khorommbi, Dr Thidziambi Nethengwe, Mr Nkosana Mbokane. Mr Mathumo Manaka and Dr Thidziambi Nethengwe had criminal records against their names and the fingerprints of the candidates would need to be identified. When the Committee finalised its report on the SABC Board nomination process, it would need to carefully consider all judgments and criminal records found against candidates.

Dr M Ndlozi (EFF) suggested the Committee deliberate on the interviewed candidates for the SABC Board first and then conduct interviews for the MDDA Board thereafter.

Ms P Van Damme (DA) agreed with Dr Ndlozi as deliberations on the SABC Board candidates needed to be as open as possible.

Dr Ndlozi asked what the meaning of “adverse credits” in the State Security Agency (SSA) Report findings on candidates were.

The Chairperson explained it meant the candidate had a 90-day delinquency on any debt.

Mr W Madisha (COPE) felt it was better for the Committee to check the status of candidates so that no one was disadvantaged.

Ms Van Damme said the Committee needed to be guided by the Broadcasting Act in that only persons who were non-citizens, mentally ill or convicted of any offense where one was sentenced to prison without provision of paying a fine, or if a person at any time was convicted of theft, forgery, corruption or convicted of any offense, subject to paragraph one of the Act, could not be appointed to the Board. Minor infringements were not grounds worthy of disqualifying candidates - the Committee needed to consider each candidate on a case by case basis.

Mr M Gungubele (ANC) said that according to the Act, the Committee had discretion of whom to appoint.

Committee deliberations on the outcome of the SABC Board interviews and adoption of Committee Report recommending candidates for appointment to the Board

Mr M Kalako (ANC) said the ANC proposed the names of Ms Khanyisile Kweyama, Mr Mathata Tsedu, Ms Febe Potgieter-Gqubule, Mr John Matisson, Mr Krish Naidoo, Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi, Ms Rachel Kalidass, Mr Michael Markovitz, Mr Bongumusa Makhathini, Mr Dinkwanyane Mohuba, Mr Victor Rambau, and Mr Nkosana Mbokane,

Ms Van Damme said the DA was proposed the names of Ms Leanne Govindsamy, Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi, Mr Victor Rambau, Mr Michael Sass, Mr John Matisson, Mr Jack Phahlane, Ms Rachel Kalidass, Mr Jack Devnarian, Mr Mathata Tsedu, Mr Michael Markovitz, Ms Khanyisile Kweyama, and Mr William Currie.

Dr Ndlozi said the Committee needed to identify that its shortlist system failed as it did not have enough qualified female candidates. The final 12 SABC Board members would be male-dominated and such it needed to ensure that a woman was appointed as Chairperson of the Board even though that decision was not up to the Committee.

The EFF proposed the names of Ms Khanyisile Kweyama, Mr Mathata Tsedu, Mr Dinkwanyane Mohuba, Mr Michael Markovitz, Mr Jack Phahlane, Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi, Mr Victor Rambau and Ms Rachel Kalidass. Dr Ndlozi had no doubts of the qualifications of Ms Potgieter-Gqubule and Mr Krish Naidoo but felt they were heavily affiliated with the ANC. In relation to Ms Potgieter-Gqubule, she failed to understand the concept of political deployment and failed to see that she could be seen using the SABC to campaign for the ANC – this could not be tolerated. Ms Potgieter-Gqubule was an unstable candidate who would leave a vacancy on the Board if she was nominated and elected into the ANC National Executive Committee. Dr Ndlozi found Mr Naidoo problematic because he publically stated the ANC sent him to interview for the position and see how he could assist with problems facing the SABC.

Mr Madisha found candidates interviewed to have been well prepared and this was an indication there were South Africans who could take the SABC forward. The smaller parties proposed the names of Mr Michael Markovitz, Mr William Currie, Mr Bongumusa Makhathini, Mr Michael Sass, Mr Dinkwanyane Mohuba, Ms Leanne Govindsamy, Mr Mathata Tsedu, Mr Krish Naidoo, Mr John Matisson, Ms Khanyisile Kweyama, Mr Jack Phahlane and Ms Harriet Meier.

Mr R Tseli (ANC) said the Committee needed to engage on some of the candidates that other political parties rejected. He wanted to comment on Ms Potgieter-Gqubule and Mr Naidoo.

The Chairperson said the Committee unanimously agreed on Ms Kweyama, Mr Tsedu, Mr Markovitz, Ms Kalidass, Mr Rambau and Ms Batyi. Members now needed to agree on the remaining six candidates to nominate to the Board.

Mr Gungubele said Ms Potgieter-Gqubule and Mr Naidoo were both individuals who had a long experience in the civil service and were both current members of the interim SABC Board. During their tenure, there were no complaints of political influence reported by the Chairperson of the interim Board or any SABC staff.

Ms Van Damme said the Committee agreed to engage and debate so that each candidate could be motivated and demotivated. The process needed to be thorough.

Dr Ndlozi said there was thorough persuasion and engagement and it had failed. He noted the EFF rejected the nomination of Mr Naidoo and Ms Potgieter-Gqubule.

Mr Kalako said the Committee was in a predicament in that even if Mr Mbokane were to be nominated, the Committee did not want a situation where a vacancy on the Board would have to be advertised because the amounts he owed were huge.

The Chairperson said there were clear motivations from the ANC and clear demotivations from opposition parties. Nothing would change each party’s position and therefore there was no need to waste any more time on those two candidates. It was best for the Committee to move on to other candidates on the list.

Dr Ndlozi said information availed to the Committee did not disqualify Mr Mbokane but Members needed to make a judgment call.

Ms Van Damme said the Committee needed to move forward and focus on the six remaining candidates - each Member should motivate reasons why they were nominating a particular candidate.

Mr Madisha said each candidate was asked to declare any disclosure of information the Committee needed to be aware of and Mr Mbokane had not disclosed to the Committee – such a candidate could not be trusted.

Mr Tseli suggested the parties perhaps present their preferred final six candidates and the Committee could then see where there would be difficulties.

Mr Kalako said the ANC’s final six names were Ms Potgieter-Gqubule, Mr Naidoo, Mr Matisson, Mr Makhathini, Mr Phalane and Mr Mohuba.

Ms Van Damme said the DA’s final six names were Ms Govindsamy, Mr Phalane, Mr Devnarain, Mr Sass, Mr Currie and Mr Matisson.

Dr Ndlozi said the EFF agreed with the ANC names except Ms Potgieter-Gqubule.

Mr Madisha said the smaller parties’ six names were Ms Govindsamy, Mr Mohuba, Mr Currie, Mr Makhathini, Mr Rambau, and Mr Matisson.

The Chairperson said the Committee unanimously agreed on Mr Jack Phalane and Mr John Matisson.

Ms Van Damme requested a short break so that the ANC could be engaged with and persuaded on the remaining four candidates to nominate.

Dr Ndlozi said the Committee had already taken a break for an hour therefore breaking for another five minutes would be a waste of time unless of the course the EFF was given an opportunity to persuade the ANC to withdraw the names of Mr Naidoo and Ms Potgieter-Gqubule.

Mr Kalako said trying to persuade the ANC on Mr Naidoo and Ms Potgieter-Gqubule would be a waste of time.

Ms N Tolashe (ANC) said the political parties had discussed these matters and discussed each candidate. There were times where the parties would agree to disagree – this was one of those times.

The Chairperson said the ANC was not going to be persuaded otherwise on the issue of Ms Potgieter-Gqubule and Mr Naidoo so therefore it was best to move forward.

Mr G Davis (DA) said that Mr Naidoo was not someone who had previously served for the ANC but was someone who was currently working for Luthuli House. The DA was opposed to the nomination of Ms Potgieter-Gqubule and Mr Naidoo but therefore accepted it was the ANC’s choice to impose its majority on the Committee.

Mr Madisha proposed that the Committee accepted the ANC’s choice while disagreeing with it - if it came to an event that the SABC fell apart again the ANC should take responsibility.

Dr Ndlozi said it was difficult for the opposition parties to swallow a majoritarian decision but they accepted it.

Mr Kalako said the ANC’s final proposed names were then Mr Markovitz, Mr Tsedu, Ms Kweyama, Ms Potgieter-Gqubule, Mr Naidoo, Mr Matisson, Ms Batyi, Ms Kalidass, Mr Makhathini, Mr Rambau, Mr Mohuba and Mr Phalane.

Mr Tseli said it was wrong for the opposition to assert the ANC was imposing a list – the Committee had been engaged and had deliberated on the candidates.

Mr Gungubele said it was important that whatever hatred people had for the ANC, they needed to tell the truth. The Committee took difficult decisions before and did not resort to taking decisions by means of a vote since August 2016.

Ms Van Damme found the ANC to be insisting on Ms Potgieter-Gqubule and Mr Naidoo based on its majority in Parliament. Focusing on the four available candidates, beside the eight the Committee agreed on, the DA was proposing Ms Govindsamy, Mr Sass, Mr Devnarain and Mr Currie.

Dr Ndlozi agreed with the ANC’s choices except that of Ms Potgieter-Gqubule and Mr Naidoo.

Mr Tseli said the ANC also compromised on some candidates – the DA was also insisting on its four candidates.

Dr Ndlozi said there was no need to vote because the ANC already had the numbers. The Committee took many breaks and it was now clear some names would simply not be agreed to. There was no point in taking a break again or taking a vote - the Committee should just proceed.

The Chairperson said the ninth name on the agreed list was Mr Mohuba since he appeared on lists of all parties expect the DA.

Mr Davis requested five minutes to discuss and reach consensus with the ANC.

Ms Van Damme said the ANC claimed to have made compromised but its list was exactly the same as when the meeting started.

Dr Ndlozi did not agree with a five minute break. It was not true that there was no large agreement on the majority of the candidates because there was. The ANC however indicated it was not compromising on the two names.

Mr Madisha said the ANC Members were out of order in the manner it was imposing its views – this was wrong. The Committee had moved together and compromised from the beginning of the process but now at the nominating stage, it was making the process extremely difficult.

The final 12 nominated candidates to comprise the SABC Board were Mr Michael Markovitz, Mr Mathata Tsedu, Ms Khanyisile Kweyama, Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi, Ms Rachel Kalidass, Mr Victor Rambau, Mr Jack Phalane, Mr John Matisson, Mr Dinkwanyane Mohuba, Mr Krish Naidoo, Ms Febe Potgieter-Gqubule and Mr Bongumusa Makhathini.

Mr Thembinkosi Ngoma, Committee Secretary, read the Draft Committee Report on the appointment of a new SABC Board, including the names of the final 12 nominated candidates, to Members

The Chairperson said the report needed to reflect the SSA report findings on the candidates.

Dr Ndlozi added the Report also needed to note all the objections from the political parties on some of the candidates.

The Chairperson put the Draft Report forward for adoption.

Mr Tseli moved for adoption of the Draft Report. The motion for adoption was seconded by Mr Kalako.

Ms Van Damme stated the DA objected to the nomination of Ms Febe Potgieter-Gqubule, Mr Krish Naidoo, Mr Bongumusa Makhathini and Mr Dinkwanyane Mohuba.

Dr Ndlozi stated he wanted the objections of the EFF to be noted with regard to the nomination of Ms Potgieter-Gqubule and Mr Krish Naidoo on the basis that they were political deployees of the ANC.

Interviews of Shortlisted Candidates for the MDDA Board

Candidate One: Adv Lufuno Nevondwe

The Chairperson noted the SSA Report on Adv Nevondwe reflected that he had a criminal record and asked what the record was for.

The Chairperson asked Adv Nevondwe if there was anything not mentioned in his Curriculum Vitae (CV) or anything of any nature that he wished to declare to the Committee.

Mr Tseli asked Adv Nevondwe what his understanding was of the role of the MDDA besides providing financial support to community radios.

Mr Tseli said that some of the community radio stations were faced with governance challenges - he asked how Adv Nevondwe would support community radio if appointed to the Board.

Mr Tseli asked how Adv Nevondwe would approach the task of financial stability – something community radio lacked.

Ms V Van Dyk (DA) asked if Adv Nevondwe would have the time to fit in the MDDA since he served on three other Boards.

Ms Van Dyk asked which legislation governed the MDDA and what regulated it.

Ms Van Dyk asked why Adv Nevondwe’s contract was terminated with the Medical Health Services Board.

Dr Ndlozi asked what way Digital Terrestrial Television could change the community radio landscape.

Dr Ndlozi asked what could be done to improve the funding model of community radio stations.

Dr Ndlozi asked if Adv Nevondwe knew how many community radio stations there were in South Africa and how many were supported by the MDDA.

Dr Ndlozi said the mandate of the MDDA was to transfer ownership in the media in general, and asked what the MDDA had done to transfer ownership of the media in South Africa.

Dr Ndlozi asked what the MDDA did to diversify patterns of ownership in major media houses.

The Chairperson said that going through Adv Nevondwe’s CV, there were many matters he was involved in – the Chairperson asked if Adv Nevondwe would have time for the MDDA.

Mr Madisha asked what Adv Nevondwe understands of the MDDA Board and how he envisaged it giving effect to the MDDA Act.

Mr Madisha said the situation in the country at the moment was engulfed by the political environment - he asked how Adv Nevondwe would ensure he was not swayed or influenced to promote a view of only one person or political party.

Ms Van Damme said that in terms of the Act, an individual who had a criminal record could not be considered for any position if the individual served a prison sentence or failed to pay the fine.

Ms Van Damme asked what the extent of Adv Nevondwe’s criminal record was and how much the fine was.

Candidate Two: Prof Sheila Mmusi

Mr Madisha asked what legislation or policy papers Prof Mmusi felt had relevance to the governance of the MDDA.

Mr Madisha said there was an issue of corruption in the country which had infected some state communications institutions - he asked how Prof Mmusi would deal with that.

Dr Ndlozi asked Prof Mmusi what her view was of the problems with regard to instabilities in the MDDA both at management and Board level.

Dr Ndlozi reiterated his question saying that if Prof Mmusi wanted to be on the Board, she should have views on problems facing the MDDA.

Dr Ndlozi asked what defined community media i.e. whether it was language, geography or accessibility.

Dr Ndlozi said one of the big matters the MDDA provided was sustainable funding to projects – he asked what criteria could be used to identify which projects should be funded.

Dr Ndlozi asked if Prof Mmusi had any ideas of what type of people or groups the MDDA Board was looking for.

Dr Ndlozi asked if there was interest in reading newspapers in indigenous languages such as Venda, Pedi, or Tsonga.

Ms Van Dyk said Prof Mmusi was extremely qualified.

Ms Van Dyk asked what Prof Mmusi’s view was of media transformation and what its impact would be.

Ms Van Dyk said Annual Reports of the MDDA was allocated to strengthening old projects- she asked if the Agency was funding new projects.

Ms Van Dyk asked what the advantages were of digital media for community radio.

Ms Van Dyk asked what Prof Mmusi could add if she was appointed to the Board.

Mr Gungubele asked what Prof Mmusi’s passion was with regard to radio stations and reviewing articles.

Mr Gungubele asked how her interest in tackling gender-based violence and language was related to communications media.

Mr Gungubele asked what significance the development and diversity of media had on nation building.

Mr Gungubele asked if Prof Mmusi could list two or three challenges facing the MDDA.

Candidate Three: Ms Sibongile Gangxa

The Chairperson said that according to the Criminal Investigative Unit (CIU), Ms Gangxa had a criminal record - the Chairperson asked if she knew what the record was for.

Mr Madisha asked if Ms Gangxa thought she had proper integrity.

Mr Madisha asked what the mandate of the MDDA was and what it envisaged giving effect to the people of the country.

Mr Madisha said that Ms Gangxa spoke about politics on many occasions and she should carry on doing so. He asked if she would be influenced or follow a person or political party.

Ms Van Dyk pointed out that Ms Gangxa had no Board experience but had extensive radio experience.

Ms Van Dyk asked what the advantages were of moving to digital radio community media.

Ms Van Dyk asked what challenges community media faced.

Ms Van Dyk asked how many television stations there were in SA and what their significance was.

Ms Van Dyk asked if Ms Gangxa had completed her Articles.

Mr Kalako asked what the founding legislation governing the MDDA was.

Mr Kalako asked how ICASA’s moratorium on community radio affected the MDDA.

Mr Kalako pointed out that SA was behind in moving from analogue to digital – he asked how the transition would affect community radio.

Mr Kalako asked which assessment criteria were used to allocate funding to community projects.

Mr Kalako said the current MDDA Board was in crisis – he asked what Ms Gangxa would effect on the Board if appointed.

Mr Kalako asked how many community television channels there currently were in SA.

Dr Ndlozi asked if Ms Gangxa had any new ideas as to how MDDA funding could be made successful in terms of it funded.

Dr Ndlozi asked why Ms Gangxa wanted to be part of a Board that gave funds when she did not know what happened to those funds, how they were distributed and also had no ideas how to improve the current situation.

Dr Ndlozi said the MDDA needed salvation.

Dr Ndlozi asked if it was fair for the Committee to give Ms Gangxa an opportunity to be included on the MDDA Board when she had no new ideas.

Dr Ndlozi asked what Ms Gangxa would do to fund projects that had not been funded before or what criteria would be used to make projects successful.

Dr Ndlozi asked what the relationship was between #datamustfall and MDDA.

Candidate Four: Adv Hubert Matlou

The Chairperson said the SSA Report indicated Adv Matlou had a negative credit rating.

The Chairperson asked Adv Matlou what he knew about the MDDA.

Ms Tolashe asked Adv Matlou to take the Committee through his experience since he had no prior Board executive experience.

Ms Tolashe asked what Adv Matlou’s view was of the media market.

The Chairperson asked Adv Matlou which four media houses dominated the market.

Ms Tolashe asked how many community television networks there were in the country, what their names were and what the role of the MDDA was in assisting community television networks.

Ms Van Dyk noted that Adv Matlou was with the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) for 11 years – she asked why he left ICASA.

Ms Van Dyk asked why Adv Matlou wanted to be part of the MDDA Board and what he could change and why.

Ms Van Dyk asked which regulations governed the MDDA.

Dr Ndlozi asked for examples of where the MDDA had leveled the playing field in its interventions.

Dr Ndlozi remarked that majority of the projects funded by the MDDA were dismal failures.

Dr Ndlozi asked if there was interest in newspapers written in local languages outside of KZN, and if so, where.

Dr Ndlozi asked what the MDDA could do to improve the interest of people reading news in their local languages.

Dr Ndlozi asked what could be improved in the criteria of projects funded by the MDDA.

Dr Ndlozi asked what could be done to improve the current monitoring and evaluation framework.

Mr Madisha asked Adv Matlou to explain his understanding of the MDDA’s actual mandate in relation to ICASA and the SABC.

Mr Madisha said that suitable qualifications were important but the Committee was also looking for a candidate with extensive experiences and exposure to communities.

The Chairperson asked if Adv Matlou had any questions for the Committee.

Candidate Five: Ms Nombeko Mbava

The Chairperson asked what Ms Mbava knew about the MDDA Board and why she had applied for the position.

Mr Madisha asked Ms Mbava to explain the mandate of the MDDA.

Mr Madisha asked how Ms Mbava would control financial issues, such as corruption, if she was appointed to the Board.

Dr Ndlozi asked if Ms Mbava had ever monitored and evaluated a radio station before.

Dr Ndlozi asked why the Committee should put Ms Mbava on the Board if she had no experience in media.

Dr Ndlozi asked if Ms Mbava had experience in media.

Dr Ndlozi said one of the big problems the MDDA dealt with was diversifying ownership of the media –he asked what the media landscape looked like in SA.

Dr Ndlozi asked what the MDDA did in the past to level the media landscape.

Dr Ndlozi asked what ideas Ms Mbava had that would bring success to projects funded by the MDDA.

Dr Ndlozi noted that Ms Mbava was involved in many entities but none were media related yet she was applying to the MDDA while having no interest in media. He asked why the Committee should nominate a candidate that, while having achieved a lot in her life, had no interest in the media.

Ms Van Dyk said there was a huge problem in the MDDA with regard to monitoring and evaluation – if Ms Mbava was appointed, how would she approach the problem and put a proper system in place?

Ms Van Dyk asked what the main challenges and problems facing community media were.

Ms M Matshoba (ANC) asked what criteria MDDA used to allocate funds to projects and how it was assessed.

Ms Matshoba asked Ms Mbava to mention two of the criteria she thought should be used when allocating funds.

Ms Matshoba asked what the governing legislation of the MDDA was.

Ms Matshoba asked how ICASA worked with the MDDA to resolve the spectrum of community radio.

Ms Matshoba asked Ms Mbava who the Minister of Communications was.

Candidate Six: Mr Ronald Lamola

The Chairperson asked Mr Lamola to introduce himself and tell the Committee why he wanted to apply for a position on the Board as well as if he had anything to declare.

Ms Van Dyk noted that Mr Lamola had been accused of inciting hate speech and violence in the past – did Mr Lamola think this would negatively affect the MDDA if he was appointed?

Ms Van Dyk asked what the role of the Minister was with regard to oversight over the MDDA.

Ms Van Dyk asked how Mr Lamola would address the issue of government departments wanting to receive free air time.

Ms Van Damme noted the MDDA Act clearly stipulated that a person who was active in political parties was automatically disqualified from serving on the Board - she asked Mr Lamola if he was fit to serve on the MDDA Board.

Ms Van Damme noted there was speculation that Mr Lamola would be nominated for ANC Mpumalanga leadership.

Dr Ndlozi remarked that Mr Lamola also applied for the SABC and ICASA Boards – this could be interpreted as Mr Lamola being an ambitious person applying for various bodies in the hopes of achieving something greater.

Dr Ndlozi, looking at Mr Lamola’s CV, observed Mr Lamola had never been interested in the media and the broadcasting sector – this made him question why Mr Lamola was applying to these Boards now.

Mr Madisha found it obvious that Mr Lamola wanted to use the MDDA to extent his political understanding.

Mr Madisha noted Mr Lamola did not say what the primary functions of the MDDA were even though it was discussed extensively.

Mr Madisha found Mr Lamola was indicating that he did not know precisely what the MDDA was enacting.

Mr Madisha said there were various political parties in the country and Mr Lamola came out by indicating he was an ANC Member. This reflected negatively on the candidate and indicated he would not be fair in executing his job on the Board if the Minister happened to be from another political party.

Mr Gungubele asked if the concerns of Members regarding Mr Lamola’s political affiliation were valid.

Mr Gungubele asked at what point, in Mr Lamola’s view, two opposing choices of ethical dilemma emerged.

Mr Gungubele asked if he was correct in thinking that political ambition was based on knowing or having information about an individual that had been acted on by that person.

Mr Gungubele asked what Mr Lamola’s understanding was of the basic functions of the MDDA.

Mr Gungubele asked what Mr Lamola understood to be challenges in executing MDDA projects.

Mr Gungubele questioned which immediate relevant Acts pertained to the MDDA.

Mr Gungubele asked what the key important issues of governance in general were.

Mr Gungubele asked what Mr Lamola would do if, at any given point of time, an ANC campaigner requested that Mr Lamola carry an MDDA favour for him/her or else they would not campaign for Mr Lamola to receive any further opportunities.

Candidate Seven: Ms Martina Della-Togna

Mr Madisha asked why Ms Della-Togna’s contract was not renewed by Parliament.

Mr Madisha wanted to know what Ms Della-Togna understands of the MDDA and what its primary functions were.

Mr Madisha asked what the relationship was between the MDDA, SABC and ICASA.

Mr Madisha questioned how Ms Della-Togna would assist in the collection of revenue from license fees.

Dr Ndlozi asked what the challenges facing the MDDA were.

Dr Ndlozi wanted to know what needed be done to resolve toxic relations between Board members and senior management.

Dr Ndlozi said advertisement relied on audiences that could pay – what would Ms Della-Togna do to resolve this issue?

Dr Ndlozi asked if there was any funding model that could move the MDDA out of reliance on advertisements or from government funding.

Dr Ndlozi said nine of the candidates interviewed were clear on how to address the funding model – he asked Ms Della-Togna for a practical funding model to address the funding issue in the MDDA.

Ms Van Dyk asked why the industry should move to digital.

Ms Van Dyk wanted to know what the role of the Minister was with regard to the role of the MDDA Board.

Ms Van Dyk asked if the former Minister had served her oversight role over the MDDA accurately.

Mr Kalako said that the Committee’s problem with the MDDA was funding of community media.

Mr Kalako asked if the big four media companies should be legislated to contribute a certain percentage to the MDDA.

Mr Kalako asked if the influence of the big four media companies were stifling the MDDA to come with efforts to enforce diversity.

Mr Kalako noted that local municipalities were not advertising in community newspapers but were instead opting for the Sunday Times and other big media houses.

Mr Kalako said that government departments across all three spheres of government needed to at least utilise community media and encourage its use.

The Chairperson asked Ms Della-Togna if she had anything to ask the Committee.

Ms Della-Togna asked if the Committee foresaw any legislation on the MDDA.

The Chairperson said that so far, the Committee had only looked at the Broadcasting Act but this was something for the Committee to consider in the future.

Deliberations on the Interviews of Candidates for the MDDA Board

Mr Kalako said the ANC proposed the names of Ms Martina Della-Togna, Mr Ronald Lamola and Ms Sibongile Gangxa.

Ms Van Damme said the DA proposed the names of Ms Martina Della-Togna, Ms Nombeko Mbava and Prof Sheila Mmusi.

Mr Madisha proposed the names of Ms Martina Della-Togna, Adv Hubert Matlou and Ms Nombeko Mbava.

Dr Ndlozi said the EFF was not convinced by any of the candidates but the party was willing to engage and be persuaded by the other political parties after the dinner break.

Mr Kalako said the ANC agreed on the names of Mr Ronald Lamola, Ms Martina Della-Togna and Ms Nombeko Mbava.

Ms Van Damme said the DA agreed with two of the names except that of Mr Lamola.

Mr Madisha echoed this.

Mr Gungubele said that compromise was a give and take and not just a take.

Mr Ngoma read the Draft Committee Report on the process of nominating three candidates to serve on the MDDA Board.

The Chairperson put the Draft Report forward for adoption.

Ms Matshoba moved to adopt the Report. This motion for adoption was seconded by Mr Tseli.

Ms Van Dyk requested the Report reflect the DA was not in support of the nomination of Mr Ronald Lamola.

Mr Madisha also did not support the nomination of Mr Lamola.

The meeting was adjourned.

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