Public Service Commission Vacancies: planning

Public Service and Administration

25 September 2008
Chairperson: Mr M Baloyi (ANC)
Share this page:

Meeting Summary

The Committee’s task was to fill three vacancies in the Public Service Commission. The Constitution requires fourteen Commissioners, five of whom are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the National Assembly, while one member for each of the nine provinces is appointed after nomination by the Premier. Section 4(4) of the Public Service Commission Act states that “Fit and proper persons shall be invited by public notice to apply for any vacancy contemplated in this section”.

The Committee chose a five-person panel to consider the curricula vitae of the 218 people that had applied. The target was to consider these applications by the 21 to 24 October and provide a short-listing of candidates for interviewing. The status of the current commissioners and whether their terms could be renewed was also discussed.

 

Meeting report

The Chairperson noted that the closing date for applications was 19 September 2008. They had received 218 applications for the three vacancies and would have to follow the normal process: Item 1 would be the distribution of the CVs to Committee members and item 2 would be the business of the Committee recommending the appointment of three candidates for the three vacancies. The Committee would then make recommendations and submit a report to the National Assembly on these. This report would be considered by the House and then sent to the President who would make the appointments.

The Chairperson pointed out that according to the National Assembly (NA) Rule 122 they were allowed to appoint a sub-committee or panel for this purpose. He commented that as members currently had to prioritise legislation, the advantage would be that all members would not have to be taken out of their constituencies. The target was to consider these applications by the 21 to 24 October.

He suggested that the panel consist of five members – 3 ANC members, 1 DA member and 1 IFP member – of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration. He said that this was merely an initial suggestion and that he was open to suggestions to make it more democratic. A second option would be to add one member from one of the other parties. However, he did state, for the record, that the Chairperson's office preferred 5 members along the line of the first option.

Mr I Julies (DA) responded that the DA preferred the first option

Ms M Matsomela (ANC) agreed with the Chair on Option 1 and asked if the 5 members of the panel included the Chairperson.

The Chairperson confirmed that it did include him and asked who would be representing the DA.

Mr Julies responded that he would represent the DA on the panel.

The Chairperson suggested that the panel consist of:  Mr I Julies (DA), Dr Roopnarain (IFP), Ms P Tshwete (ANC), Mr N Gcwabaza (ANC) and himself.

Mr K Minnie (DA) asked if the three vacancies were open because the previous commissioners had come to the end of their terms and whether any of the previous commissioners had made themselves available for another term.

The Chairperson responded that the first terms of the commissioners were expiring. The vacancies the Committee had to consider were of those commissioners whose contracts would expire in February 2009. Due to elections it would not be possible for the Committee to deal with this process later. Of the three PSC posts, one had already left and the other two who had not yet served the maximum two terms (1 five year term that was renewable). Hence there were terms that could be extended.

Ms P Tshwete (ANC) asked if she could make a special request and put forward Ms Matsomela instead of herself for the panel. She felt this was appropriate as Ms Matsomela had experience of the issues of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration and had also been there for some time.

The Chairperson replied that this request was in order. As an ANC alternate member, Ms Matsomela, could have been added, had the second option (six members) been agreed upon. They were still seeking legal clarity on this issue as the rule was that they should consider only full members of the Committee - not alternates. If that was cleared, Ms Matsomela would be able to replace Ms Tshwete.

The Chairperson stated that he had not seen the content of the files and on the understanding that the applications would be distributed to members for consideration, he adjourned the meeting.

Documents

No related documents

Present

  • We don't have attendance info for this committee meeting

Download as PDF

You can download this page as a PDF using your browser's print functionality. Click on the "Print" button below and select the "PDF" option under destinations/printers.

See detailed instructions for your browser here.

Share this page: