ICASA Council appointments: recommendations

Meeting report

Opening Remarks
The Chairperson greeted and welcomed all members. Thereafter, he noted the apologies that were made for the committee meeting. Ms P Van Damme (DA) was recorded as being on study leave and represented by Ms V Van Dyk (DA). Ms W Newhoudt-Druchem (ANC) was acknowledged as an alternate member who had to attend the Public Service and Administration committee meeting. 

Recollection: Request from Minister of Communications
The Chairperson noted that upon request of the Minister, the Committee was asked to recommend three candidates for the vacancy of councillor at the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). This process took place in accordance with the ICASA Act.

A Subcommittee of the Committee conducted interviews in an open meeting at Parliament on Tuesday, 22 November 2016. The Subcommittee unanimously agreed on two candidates, Ms N Gongxeka and Adv D Qocha. However there was a disagreement concerning the third candidate to be submitted.
Motivation of Third Candidate
The Chairperson requested that the two parties motivate their two proposed names. He stated that party’s needed to go back and talk about if it is proper to have a subcommittee for the participation in interviews instead of having the entire Committee present. He motivated that having a subcommittee causes disorganisation as not all members are permitted to participate during the interview process. Furthermore, he mentioned that the presence of a subcommittee is not a rule and is purely an arrangement.

Mr R Tseli (ANC) motivated candidate Ms P Kadi on behalf of ANC. He motivated that she had vast experience in media and that she performed well at the interview. He further noted that Ms Kadi showed a willingness to resign from her current job in order to be appointed as full time counsellor.

Ms V Van Dyk (DA) motivated on behalf of the DA that they abstained from supporting this candidate as she only received the candidates CV during the subcommittee meeting.

Ms N Tolashe (ANC) clarified that the candidate CVs were made available for all subcommittee members. She continued that Ms Van Dyk should have been briefed before the meeting by Ms P Van Damme (DA).  

Ms Van Dyk responded that the DA abstained from submitting Ms Kadi as the third candidate.

Ms Tolashe clarified that if Ms Van Dyk does not motivate her reason for abstaining to submit Ms Kadi as a third candidate, this cannot be the fault of Committee. She explained that the Committee can not be blamed for a shortcoming in the DA as they have not briefed their standby representatives about the meeting that took place in November.

Ms Van Dyk responded that she abstained as a result of not having had knowledge of Ms Kadi beforehand. 

Mr M Gungubele (ANC) explained that Ms Van Dyk speaks from a position of not having been present at the previous meeting. He continued that in order to maintain a two third harmony it had to be reflected in the minutes that she had abstained from submitting Ms Kadi as the third candidate.

Mr Tseli states that Ms Van Dyk was not primarily involved in the nomination process as she only attended the meeting on behalf of Ms Van Damme.

Ms Van Dyk maintained that an addition should be made in the adoption of the report stating that the DA does not agree to the nomination of the third candidate.

Ms Tolashe stated that this should not further be discussed as it would waste more time. She suggested that a better debriefing among DA members is done in future.

The Chairperson quoted from Rule166 4B 1 that a committee may not submit a one third report and that it should specify in the report the respects in which a Committee was not unanimous. As a result, he asked that it be reflected that the three candidates would be Ms Gongxeka, Adv Qocha and Ms Kadi in the adoption of the report and that the DA abstained from supporting the third candidate.

Ms Tolashe seconded the adoption of the report.

Mr L Mbinda (PAC) also supported the adoption of the report.

The report was adopted with reflection that the DA abstained from choosing a third candidate.

The meeting was adjourned.