PSC Vacancy: Shortlisting of candidates for interviews

Public Service and Administration

14 February 2023
Chairperson: Mr T James (ANC)
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Meeting Summary

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Draft Criteria for shortlisting of candidates for post at the Public Service Commission (internal document)

The sub-Committee of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration received a briefing on the draft criteria for shortlisting candidates for the Commissioner post at the Public Service Commission.

The sub-Committee deliberated on whether it should include in its criteria how many candidates it would shortlist, given that there were 69 applicants for the vacancy at the Commission. The criteria for shortlisted candidates included that the candidate must be knowledgeable and skilled pertaining to government systems, must possess the relevant qualifications according to the core mandate of the Commission, must have experience in executive, senior or middle management, must have previous experience in the public service, and must demonstrate high levels of integrity. The Committee would consider gender and persons with disabilities when shortlisting candidates to ensure fair and equitable representation.

After much deliberation, the sub-Committee resolved that it would shortlist seven candidates. The seven shortlisted candidates were Mandisa Fatyela; Stephina Precious Refilwe Sebela; Vincent Errol Magerman; Bhekizenzo Tembe; Mododa Theodore Sefuba; Benedict Sifiso Khumalo; and Cynthia Melene Rossouw. 

Meeting report

Draft criteria for shortlisting candidates

Mr Julius Ngoepe, Committee Content Adviser, briefed the Members on the draft criteria for the shortlisting of candidates for the Commissioner post at the Public Service Commission (PSC).

The Committee had received 69 applications.

He said that a legal opinion had been sought on what “fit and proper” meant.

The criteria for candidates shortlisted included that the candidate must be knowledgeable and skilled pertaining to government systems, must possess the relevant qualifications according to the core mandate of the Commission, must have experience in executive, senior or middle management, must have previous experience in the public service, and must demonstrate high levels of integrity.

Mr Ngoepe emphasised that Members must consider gender and persons with disabilities when shortlisting candidates, to ensure fair and equitable representation.

Currently, two men and two serve on the National Commission.  

Discussion

Ms M Kibi (ANC) moved for the adoption of the guidelines as presented, as they were the same as those the Committee had previously worked with.

Mr C Sibisi (NFP) seconded the adoption of the presentation.

Ms V Malomane (ANC) proposed that the criteria include 50 plus 1.

The Chairperson said this could not be included in the criteria, but the sub-committee should discuss how many candidates should be shortlisted.

Ms T Mgweba (ANC) agreed with Ms Malomane that the presentation had stated there were 69 applicants, but the Committee should shortlist seven candidates. The Committee should discuss how many candidates it would recommend to Parliament, and should any issues arise with a candidate, to have an alternative candidate to propose.

Ms R Komane (EFF) said Ms Malomane’s suggestion was premature, as perhaps the Committee should shortlist ten Candidates and it had not yet begun the process. She suggested the Committee follow the previous process, by rating candidates according to the set criteria. The Committee should note Ms Mgweba’s comments and discuss them at the next meeting.

The Chairperson said Ms Komane was not rejecting the proposals by other Members, but was saying they should be considered at a later stage.

Dr M Gondwe (DA) said she agreed with Ms Komane that discussing how many candidates should be shortlisted at this point was premature. The purpose of the meeting was to decide on the identified names.  

Ms Mgweba asked what the next item on the agenda was. She understood the next item to be shortlisting.

The Chairperson asked Mr Ngoepe to assist the Committee in its discussion.

Mr Ngoepe said it may seem premature to indicate how many candidates should be shortlisted, but the Committee had shortlisted almost 19 candidates for two vacancies last time. Some candidates felt the Committee did not give them enough time to present themselves. For example, a candidate could be given one hour during the interview. He suggested that Members be allowed to propose the candidates they preferred to be shortlisted according to their numbers. The Committee could then decide how many candidates should be shortlisted.

Dr Gondwe said her preferred candidates were numbers 44, 34, 54, 58, 37, 32, 19, 4, 48 and 69.

The Chairperson’s preferred candidates were numbers 17, 27, 32, 33, 34, 39, 44, 51, 56, 58 and 65.

Mr Sibisi’s preferred candidates were numbers 32, 19, 22, 55 and 52.

Ms Malomane’s preferred candidates were numbers 2, 9, 18, 17, 39, 55 and 51.

Ms Komane’s preferred candidates were numbers 17, 18, 19, 32, 33, 44, 58.

Ms Kibi’s preferred candidates were numbers 9, 2, 39, 55, 51,18,19 and 17.

Ms Mgweba’s preferred candidates were numbers 17, 18, 9, 2, 39, 55 and 51.

Mr Ngoepe said the support staff would determine which numbers were commonly called by Members, and these would then be ranked.

The sub-Committee took a 15-minute break

Mr Ngoepe presented the numbers commonly chosen by the Members.

Ms Komane said it seemed as if the staff was deciding on behalf of the Committee. She said the Committee had not decided on the number of shortlisted candidates, and only seven numbers had been given.

The Chairperson requested that all the commonly chosen numbers be presented.

Mr M Biyela, Committee Researcher, presented the commonly chosen numbers.

Ms Komane said she wanted to support the earlier suggestion to choose the top seven candidates. This was fair, because there was only one vacancy.

Ms Mgweba said the Committee should proceed with Ms Komane’s suggestion.

Dr Gondwe said she was concerned that other candidates who had received three votes each were very strong candidates, and limiting shortlisted candidates to seven would be limiting the pool. She suggested that candidates who received three or more votes should be included in the shortlisting.

Ms Mgweba said she had changed her mind and supported Dr Gondwe. She suggested that 11 candidates be shortlisted.

Ms Komane said she did not want the sub-Committee to seem as if it was pre-empting shortlisted candidates. She said no one on the sub-Committee had agreed on the number of shortlisted candidates. No one opposed Ms Malomane’s suggestion. The argument that strong candidates, based on what they had presented in their CV’s, should be chosen as they might perform well in interviews was incorrectly placed, as that would mean they had to choose everyone.

Ms Kibi asked that the sub-Committee stick to seven shortlisted candidates, taking into account the costs involved, as candidates would have to be transported to the interview venue and provided with accommodation.

The Chairperson said completing the interviews in a day would be easier if only seven candidates were shortlisted. If interviews continued over two days, it would place the candidates being interviewed on the second day at an advantage, as they would have heard the questions posed during interviews.

Dr Gondwe suggested that the pool of candidates to be shortlisted be increased to 11, as a person of quality needed to be chosen.

Ms Kibi said quality should be considered during the interviews. Money should be saved by government. The sub-Committee should be guided by considering the candidates who received the most votes.

The Chairperson said the interviews should be finished in one day. In his view, the Committee was not disregarding anyone as interviews had not yet begun, and the Candidates were being identified based on numbers and not by their names.

The seven shortlisted candidates were:

  1. Mandisa Fatyela
  2. Stephina Precious Refilwe Sebela
  3. Vincent Errol Magerman
  4. Bhekizenzo Tembe
  5. Mododa Theodore Sefuba
  6. Benedict Sifiso Khumalo
  7. Cynthia Melene Rossouw

Dr Gondwe requested that her objection to seven shortlisted Candidates be noted.

The Chairperson said it was noted.

The meeting was adjourned.

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