Question NW1202 to the Minister of Communications
05 June 2017 - NW1202
King, Ms C to ask the Minister of Communications
(1)Whether, with reference to (a) the reply to question 1965 on 30 September 2016, (b) the reply to question 1065 on 25 April 2016 and (c) the reply to question 435 on 30 March 2017, any positions are still vacant at the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA); if not, what are the relevant details; if so, (a) which positions are still vacant and (b) what are the reasons in each case; (2) for how long has the CEO position of the MDDA been vacant; (3) whether the specified person is compensated for the roles of (a) Chairperson of the MDDA Board and (b) CEO; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (i) on what statutory grounds, (ii) what are the terms and (iii) how much in each case; (4) whether, with reference to the reply to question 435 on 30 March 2017, she has found that the position of CEO of the MDDA will be filled by the end of the first quarter of the 2017-18 financial year as anticipated; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what progress has been made in this regard? (2) have the specified positions been advertised; if so, (a) which positions were advertised and (b)(i) in which media and (ii) on what dates were they advertised; (3) (a) how many of the specified positions are still occupied in an acting capacity and (b)(i) how many senior management acting positions are still occupied in an acting capacity since the appointment of the new MDDA Board and (ii) which positions are these?
Reply:
- Yes.
(a) The following positions are still vacant;
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Strategy, Monitoring and Evaluation Director
Research and Capacity Building Manager
Project Director
Executive Secretary to CEO
Knowledge Management Co-ordinator
Assistant Company Secretary
Legal and Contracts Officer
Internal Audit Manager
Travel and Events Officer
HR Officer
Digital Media Co-ordinator
(b) Chief Executive Officer (CEO): A CEO was appointed for the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), commencing on 1 January 2017. He subsequently resigned from the Agency, with immediate effect, on 28 February 2017. Recruitment for a replacement CEO commenced immediately with a recruitment advertisement placed nationally with a closing date of 2 April 2017. The candidates have since been shortlisted.
Chief Financial Officer: This position was put on hold to enable the newly appointed acting CEO to be involved in the selection of the Executive Team.
Executive Secretary to the CEO: This position was put on hold to enable the newly appointed CEO to be involved in the selection of the Executive Secretary.
Strategy, Monitoring and Evaluation Director, Project Director: This position was put on hold to enable the newly appointed CEO to be involved in the selection of the Executive Team. On the resignation of the CEO on 28 February 2017, the Board of the MDDA decided not to delay recruitment of the executive positions any further.
Research and Capacity Building Manager; Knowledge Management Co-ordinator; Assistant Company Secretary; Legal and Contracts Officer, Internal Audit Manager, Travel and Events Officer, HR Officer, Digital Media Co-ordinator: These positions are new in the MDDA organogram which was approved by the Board in quarter four of the 2015/2016 financial year. The positions were to be funded through funding from two major funders who only committed this funding in quarter 3 of the 2016/17 financial year.
2. (a) Yes, all positions have been advertised.
(b) (i) and (ii) The positions for CEO, CFO, Legal and Contracts Officer, Assistant Company Secretary and Travel and Events Co-ordinator were advertised in the Sunday Times on 12 March 2017 and on the MDDA website.
The other positions were advertised on 10 April 2016 in the City Press and on the MDDA website.
3. (a) Two of the specified positions are occupied in an acting capacity namely; CEO and CFO.
(b) (i) None (ii) Only the executive positions listed above in (3) (a) are occupied in an acting position. These are recent vacancies.