SABC Board: Finalisation

COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
11 September 2007
SABC BOARD: FINALISATION

Chairperson: Mr G Oiliphant (ANC)

Audio recording of meeting

SUMMARY
This was the conclusion of the process of choosing the candidates to be considered for a position on the new SABC board.

The ANC gave the names of the people they had chosen, with consideration of the names put forward by the other parties, to be on the SABC Board. The other parties were then given an opportunity to question those choices and voice their dissatisfaction or support of the proposed names. Various concerns were raised namely, conflicts of interest and the reinstatement of existing board members.

The members found consensus on seven of the recommended candidates: Ms Nadia Bulbulia, Ms Alison Gilward, Mr Peter Vundla, Ms Fadila Lagadien, Ms Khanyisile Mkhonza, Adv Pansy Tlakula and Mr Ashwin Trikamjee.  There was mixed support for the other five recommended candidates: Mr Desmond Golding, Mr Andile Mbeki, Mr Bheki Khumalo, Ms Christine Qunta and Ms Gloria Serobe.

MINUTES
The Chairperson started the meeting by thanking everyone involved in this process. They had now come to the end of a very long road. He added that the process was credible, fair and open. He gave thanks to the South African public for giving the Committee these choices, the candidates for the opportunity to interview them as well as the committee members. He also thanked the media for reporting on the process effectively and accurately and the various political parties for their co-operation.

He noted that the ANC had considered the names that were put forward by other parties as well. He called on Mr Mohlalonga to announce the candidates that the ANC recommended for appointment. He also noted that when the Committee next met on 18 September 2007, there would be a new Chairperson in place. He and Mr R Mohlalonga (ANC) would be leaving the Committee. They would be moving to the Portfolio Committees on of Science and Technology and Agriculture, respectively.

Mr Mohlalonga wished the Chairperson well for his move to the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology. He added a word of thanks for the support received. The Committee had received 142 nominations, which showed that the public had a great interest in the work of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). As a committee, they had always tried to do the best for SABC. From the 142 nominees it was not easy for them to arrive at 37 candidates to interview. The fact that the candidates had taken the time to come and talk to the Committee was also appreciated. As the ANC, they would have loved to appoint all of the candidates. In the national interest and that of the SABC, the following people collectively represented what was required of a public broadcaster. They were able to appreciate the challenges that the SABC had, lifting it out of debt, complementing the strength that was already there and providing for strategic leadership for the institution. The ANC tabled the following names:

Ms Nadia Bulbulia, Ms Alison Gilwald, Mr Desmond Golding, Mr Bheki Khumalo, Ms Christina Qunta, Ms Gloria Serobe, Mr Andile Mbeki, Ms Fadila Lagadien, Ms Khanyisiwe Mkhonza, Adv Pansy Tlakula, Mr Ashwin Trikamjee, Mr Andile Mbeki and Mr Peter Vundla.

He said that this list represented the collective interests of the people and the country. He asked that they formally table these names for consideration and adoption by the Committee.

Ms D Smuts (DA) expressed regret about a couple of these candidates giving her reasons. She was very surprised to see Ms Serobe in the list. She thought that, from the interview process, it was discussed that Ms Serobe was a shareholder in Telkom, through the Elephant Consortium. And Telkom Media was about to enter into direct competition with SABC, which also wanted to obtain a subscription broadcasting licence. She said that this fact brought about difficulty. Considering what other “wonderful” candidates there were, this one surprised her.

She wanted to make it a matter of public record that they disagreed on the addition of Ms Qunta to the list on many issues. One issue especially was freedom of speech as raised in her interview. She added that included in the list of Ms Qunta’s investments and shareholdings was the Comforters Healing Gift Pty Ltd. Upon some research, she found that this company purported to have a cure for HIV/AIDS. She added that the Treatment Action Campaign and the Eastern Cape formation of ANC had done enquiries on the products sold by this company. She asked if this was not a concern. She also felt that Mr Mbeki should not be reinstated.

Ms S Vos (IFP) thought that she made it obvious during the interviews, that she did not think that Ms Qunta deserved to be a candidate. She felt that it was more than obvious that her reappointment would be problematic.

She also felt that Mr Mbeki, when compared to the other candidates, had passed his “sell by date” and there were other candidates that that could be more seriously contemplated.

She agreed with Ms Smuts’ opinions on Ms Serobe. She then sought clarity on the members of the SABC board that the ANC were proposing to reinstate: which were Ms Qunta, Mr Trikamjee, Ms Gilwald, Mr Mbeki and Ms Lagadien. She requested that the Chairperson allow members to discuss amongst themselves, the possibility of considering other candidates.

Mr Mohlolonga said that as the ANC they would have preferred to appoint all of them and it was not their desire to de-motivate the candidates. He was surprised with Ms Smuts’s line of concern, as it had no relevance to the SABC, especially with regards to her concerns about Ms Qunta. They had considered everything and this list was what they had arrived at. In reference to the issues raised about Ms Serobe, he said that the ANC had asked those questions to satisfy themselves that she would be able to fulfil her role in the context of the board given all the business interests that she had. They were quite comfortable that that issue would not arise. And on the issue of Mr Mbeki….

The Chairperson interjected and went through the list to see where there was consensus on nominees and where not. There was absolute consensus on Ms Bulbulia, Ms Gilward, Mr Vundla, Ms Lagadien, Ms Mkhonza, Mr Trikamjee and Ms Tlakula.

There was opposition to Mr Golding, Ms Qunta, Mr Mbeki, and Ms Serobe. With regards to Ms Frene Ginwala, the DA said publicly that they would support her but later withdrew their support and the IFP and ANC supported her. But after consideration, it was decided not to put her name on the list.

He said that there seemed to be consensus on 75 to 80% of the candidates. He added that he did take the point that there were other candidates that could have been considered. As the matter had to be concluded today he said that they would have to vote on the names if they could find a replacement

The Chairperson said that it would be a good idea to give the Committee the chance to discuss the issues raised amongst themselves.

Mr Mohlalonga said that even if they did have this chance to talk amongst themselves, they had taken into account the considerations of both the DA and the IFP on the matter.

The Chairperson said that if the members asked for ten minutes to discuss the matter privately, they should be afforded that courtesy.

Ms Smuts said that the DA supported seven of the twelve names and added that she supported Ms Lagadien as well. With regard to Ms Ginwala, the DA caucus was not reconciled with supporting someone who sat on the ANC National Executive Committee. However, the Chairperson had said that the incumbency of the NEC ended in January just when the new board members would take up their positions. If that person were to step down from the NEC post, there would be no problem with her being on the Board. She suggested that when they had the ten-minute break, that they inform Ms Ginwala of this possibility and ask if she would consider standing down from the ANC NEC when this term expired. She felt that it would be in interest of the public broadcaster as well as the public to appoint the former Speaker of Parliament to the Board. This was especially in light of the fact that certain sitting board members would be returning.

She said that it was not correct, after going through a process this long, to shut down all discussion at this point. They needed to go through the ANC’s list, which she pointed out was the first time that the rest of the committee was seeing it, to check that all the categories of expertise were there, measure if the devotion to free speech was there and so on.

The Committee had a short break to caucus.

After the break the Chairperson said that the DA and ANC agreed on 6 out of the 12 people and the IFP and ANC agreed on 7 and was flexible on 1 person.

The Chairperson said that they needed to finalise the matter so that it could be taken to Parliament for debate and conclusion.

He then went through the list again after the members’ private discussions. There was absolute consensus on Ms Bulbulia, Ms Gilward, Mr Vundla, Ms Lagadien, Ms Mkhonza, Adv Tlakula and Mr Trikamjee. The IFP and the DA opposed Ms Qunta, Ms Serobe and Mr Mbeki whereas the ANC supported all three of those candidates. The ANC supported Mr Golding whereas the IFP opposed and the DA abstained from voting. The DA and ANC supported Mr Khumalo but the IFP abstained from voting.
                                   
The meeting was adjourned.