Interviews of Candidates for appointment on the Media Development & Diversity Agency

Meeting report

The following candidates were interviewed: Mr N Woudberg, Mr M Jara, Ms K Skinner, Mr S Molefe, Dr A Haupt, Ms C Kananda, Ms P Ntombela-Nzimande, Prof S Mmusi and Dr T Bosch.

After the interviews the Committee deliberated on which two candidates would be appointed to the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA).

Discussion
The Chairperson asked for the nominations.

Ms D Smuts (DA) stated that the Democratic Alliance wanted Mr M Jara and either Prof S Mmusi or Dr T Bosch to be appointed as board members in the MDDA.

Mr K Khumalo (ANC) stated that the ANC wished to nominate Ms C Kananda and Ms P Ntombela-Nzimande. However, the ANC could agree to Ms P Ntombela-Nzimande and Dr T Bosch.  

The Chairperson asked the rest of the ANC if they were satisfied with the compromise.

Mr R Pieterse (ANC) stated that the ANC had agreed on Ms P Ntombela-Nzimande and Ms C Kananda already. He needed a minute to think about the proposal.

Ms Smuts stated that she was surprised at the ANC’s nominations. She could not agree to the proposal of Ms P Ntombela-Nzimande and Dr T Bosch because she did not approve of Ms P Ntombela-Nzimande’s nomination.

Mr Khumalo replied that Dr T Bosch’s inclusion in the ANC’s nomination was not so that the DA would agree to the nomination; it was because Dr T Bosch had performed so well in her interview. The ANC also wanted to appoint Ms P Ntombela-Nzimande to the MDDA because she did well in her interview and because she had a lot of experience in media. He noted that Ms Smuts could be opposed to Ms P Ntombela-Nzimande’s nomination because of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) issues and the fact that the nominee was an employee at the SABC.

Ms Smuts responded that the SABC was in a funding relationship with the MDDA and therefore Ms P Ntombela-Nzimande should rather be appointed to boards in the commercial sector.

Mr Khumalo stated that individual members of society were called to apply for the appointment to the MDDA.

Ms L Yengeni (ANC) seconded the nomination for Ms P Ntombela-Nzimonde and Dr T Bosch.

Mr M Kholwane (ANC) stated that Section 5 of the MDDA Act showed that conflict of interest was not part of the rules for disqualification from appointment. 

Mr Pieterse added that Ms P Ntombela-Nzimande had performed very well in her interview with the Committee and in her role as a Deputy Director General in the SABC. He welcomed Ms P Ntombela-Nzimande and Dr T Bosch’s nomination.

Ms Smuts still wondered why the ANC did not want to appoint Mr M Jara as a MDDA board member.

The Chairperson noted that the Committee had agreed to the nomination of Ms P Ntombela-Nzimande and Dr T Bosch. He read out the motion on the appointment of board members to the MDDA. The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) would consider the report. 

The meeting was adjourned.