ATC210901: Interim report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the filling of two vacancies on the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board, dated 1 September 2021

Communications and Digital Technologies

Interim report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the filling of two vacancies on the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board, dated 1 September 2021

 

The Portfolio Committee on Communications, having considered the request from the Minister in the Presidency: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in respect of the two MDDA Board vacancies, reports as follows:

A letter dated 26 May 2020 was received from the Minister in The Presidency: (i) informing the National Assembly of the expiry of terms of office of Dr Nombeko Mbava and Ms Martina Della-Togna on the Board of the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) in October 2020; and (ii) requesting the National Assembly to initiate the process to fill the vacancies in terms of the Media Development and Diversity Agency Act, 2002 (Act No 14 of 2002).

The Committee considered the letter from the Minister in the Presidency and resolved that the Secretariat should proceed with the process of publishing an advertisement in the media calling for the nomination of persons to fill the two vacancies on the MDDA Board. The advertisement was published in all eleven official languages in two national newspapers, two regional newspapers and seven community media newspapers. Fifty-six nominations were received.

On 1 September 2021, the Committee met to consider the criteria and skills required to fill the two vacancies. The Committee unanimously resolved that the following 13 candidates be shortlisted for interviews: Ms Martina Della-Togna; Dr Nombeko Mbava; Ms Carol Mohlala; Mr Luzuko Buku, Ms Blaise Koetsie; Mr Lionel Adendorf; Mr Louis Seeco; Mr Ryland Fisher; Mr Phosa Mashangoane; Prof Siyasanga Tyali; Ms Nalini Maharaj; Mr Masimene Lesiba; and Ms Amantle Mokubung.

A Subcommittee of the Portfolio Committee on Communications will proceed with the interviews of the shortlisted candidates on Friday, 3 September 2021 and make recommendations to the Committee, which will report to the National Assembly with its recommendations once qualification and security verifications have been concluded.