ATC190314; Final report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the filling of eight vacancies on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Board, dated 14 March 2019

Communications and Digital Technologies

Final report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the filling of eight vacancies on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Board, dated 14 March 2019
 

The Portfolio Committee on Communications, having considered the request of the Minister of Communications and the President of the Republic of South Africa to commence with the process of filling eight vacancies on the SABC Board, reports as follows:

 

A letter dated 10 May 2018 was received from the Minister of Communications informing the National Assembly of the resignations of Ms R Kalidass and Ms F Potgieter-Gqubule from the SABC Board, as well as the declining by Ms N Batyi of the offer to be appointed to the Board, and requesting the National Assembly to recommend two candidates for appointment, in terms of section 13 of the Broadcasting Act (No. 4 of 1999), for the unexpired portion of the period for which Ms Kalidass and Ms Potgieter-Gcubule were appointed, and one candidate for the unexpired portion of the period for which Ms Batyi would have been appointed.

 

A second letter dated 11 July 2018 was received from the Minister of Communications informing the National Assembly of the resignation of Mr V Rambau, in terms of section 15(2) of the Broadcasting Act, from the SABC Board with effect from 29 June 2018, and requesting the National Assembly to recommend a candidate for appointment, in terms of section 13 of the Broadcasting Act, for the unexpired portion of the period for which Mr Rambau was appointed, ie until 15 October 2022.

 

The Committee advertised the call for persons to be nominated to serve on the SABC Board and received 80 nominations. On 16 October 2018, the Committee deliberated and unanimously agreed that the following candidates be shortlisted for interviews: Mr Kevan Jones, Adv Lekalakala Motshedi, Mr Thabo Leshilo, Mr Diliza Madikiza, Ms Unathi Magwentshu, Ms Vuyokazi Makhubalo, Mr Mathews Mofokeng, Ms Bernedette Muthien, Mr Mergan Naidoo, Ms Thozama Nene, Mr Michael Nurick and Ms Jasmina Patel.

 

The names of the shortlisted candidates were published on the parliamentary website for public comment for a period of seven working days. The interviews were scheduled for Tuesday, 30 October 2018, and later postponed to 6 November 2018 due to unavailability of candidates. However, a number of candidates withdrew from the process before the Committee could conduct interviews. It was at this stage that the Committee resolved to re-advertise the four SABC Board vacancies together with the four new vacancies which arose as a result of the resignation of Mr Krish Naidoo, Ms Khanyisile Kweyama, Mr John Matisonn and Mr Mathatha Tsedu. The request to fill the four new vacancies was contained in a letter dated 6 December 2018 by the President, requesting the National Assembly to urgently process the filling of the vacancies that resulted from the resignations. The eight vacancies were advertised on 11 December 2018 with a closing date of 21 December 2018. An additional 153 applications were received, which, when added with the previous applications, totaled 233.

 

On 19 February 2019, the Committee met to discuss the SABC Board appointment process and on 28 February 2019, the Committee unanimously agreed that the following candidates be shortlisted: Mr Gift Buthelezi, Adv Motshedi Benjamin Lekalakala, Mr Nkosana Mbokane, Mr Mathews Mofokeng, Ms Mamodupi Mohlala-Molaudzi, Ms Bernedette Muthien, Ms Jasmina Patel, Adv Nakedi Ribane, Dr Marcia Socikwa, Mr Siphile Buthelezi, Prof Sathasivan Cooper, Mr David Maimela, Mr Mpiyakhe Mkholo, Adv Lufuno Nevondwe, Ms Mary Papayya, Chief Luvhuwani Matsila, Mr Sembie Danana, Mr Itani Tseisi, Mr Rowan Nicholls, Mr Mfanozelwe Shozi, Ms Nokuzola Ehrens, Ms Mmabatho Ramagoshi, Mr William Malema Ramoshaba, and Ms Lulama Mokhobo.

 

The Committee interviewed all the above-mentioned candidates on 5, 6 and 7 March 2019 at Parliament.

 

On 14 March 2019, the Committee met to deliberate on the interviews and recommended that the following eight candidates be appointed to the SABC Board: Ms Mary Papayya, Ms Jasmina Patel, Dr Marcia Socikwa, Ms Mamodupi Mohlala-Molaudzi, Ms Bernedette Muthien, Adv Benjamin Motshedi Lekalakala, Prof Sathasivan Cooper and Mr David Maimela.

 

The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) objected to the report.

 

Report to be considered.