ATC220316: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the filling of two vacancies on the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board, dated 15 March 2022
Communications and Digital Technologies
Report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the filling of two vacancies on the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board, dated 15 March 2022
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 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.
The Committee further established a seven-member Subcommittee (4 x African National Congress, 1 x Democratic Alliance, 1 x Economic Freedom Fighters and 1 x Inkatha Freedom Party) to oversee the process of filling the two vacancies on the MDDA Board and report back to it.
On 31 August 2021, the Subcommittee met to consider the criteria and skills required to fill the vacancy and unanimously recommended that the Committee approve the following shortlisted candidates: 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.
On 1 September 2021, the Committee adopted the recommendation of the Subcommittee and candidates were interviewed on 3 and 7 September 2021, with the exception of Dr Nombeko Mbava, who withdrew from the process following her appointment to the Financial and Fiscal Commission. All the candidate’s qualifications were verified by Parliament’s Human Resources Unit and personnel suitability checks were conducted by the State Security Agency (SSA).
On 10 March 2022, the Subcommittee met and deliberated on the interviews and unanimously agreed to recommend to the Committee that Ms Martina Della-Togna and Ms Carol Mohlala be appointed to fill the two vacancies on the MDDA Board.
On 15 March 2022, the Committee met to consider the recommendation of the Subcommittee. The Committee unanimously recommends that the National Assembly approve the names of Ms Martina Della-Togna and Ms Carol Mohlala for appointment to the MDDA Board for a full four-year term.
Report to be considered.