ATC170822: Interim report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the appointment of the Board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, dated 22 August 2017

Communications and Digital Technologies

Interim report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the appointment of the Board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, dated 22 August 2017
 

The Portfolio Committee on Communications (the Committee), having considered the resolution of the National Assembly to dissolve the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Board, reports as follows:

 

On 5 October 2016, the Committee resolved that an inquiry into the fitness of the SABC Board to hold office in terms of section 15A of the Broadcasting Act, No 4 of 1999, was necessary. Subsequent to the resolution of the Committee, the National Assembly established an ad hoc Committee on the SABC Board Inquiry to inquire inter alia into the fitness of the SABC Board to discharge its duties as described in the Broadcasting Act, No 4 of 1999, and any other applicable legislation.

 

The ad hoc Committee on the SABC Board Inquiry recommended to the National Assembly that the SABC Board be dissolved and that an interim Board be appointed. On 7 March 2017, the National Assembly adopted the recommendation of the ad hoc Committee.

 

On 14 March 2017, the Committee deliberated on the names and recommended to the National Assembly that the following candidates be recommended for appointment to the interim Board of the SABC: Mr John Matisonn, Mr Mathatha Tsedu, Mrs Febbe Potgieter-Gqubule, Ms Khanyisile Kweyama and Mr Krish Naidoo.

 

Furthermore, the Committee recommended that Ms Kweyama be appointed Chairperson and Mr Tsedube appointed Deputy Chairperson of the interim Board of the SABC. The interim Board would serve for a period of six months as per the Broadcasting Act, No 4 of 1999.

 

On 2 June 2017, the Committee published an advert calling for persons to be nominated to serve on the SABC Board. The advert closed on 30 June 2017 and the Committee received 741 nominations. After a process of elimination of applicants who had not responded to the advertisement, the Committee was left with 363 nominations to consider for shortlisting. The Committee met on 15 August 2017 to discuss the shortlisting process. The Committee agreed that 36 candidates would be shortlisted and interviewed. On 22 August 2017, the Committee deliberated and recommended that the following 36 candidates be shortlisted:

Mr Mathatha Godfrey Tsedu; Mr Krish Naidoo; Ms Khanyisile Kweyama, Mr John Matisonn; Mrs Febbe Potgieter-Gqubule; Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi; Ms Rachel Kalidass; Mr Thabiso Ratsomo; Mr Rufus Dzuguda Kharidzha; Mr Michael Markovitz; Mr William Currie; Mr Sandile Kama; Dr Deenadaylen Konar; Ms Harriet Meier; Ms Dawn Earp; Mr Michael Bauer; Judge Chris Greenland; Mr Desmond Golding; Mr Manaka Mathumo; Mr Victor Rambau; , Mr Tshifhiwa  Khorommbi; Mr Mcebo Khumalo; Ms Seipati Khumalo; Dr Thidziambi Nethengwe; Ms Cikizwa Dingi; Ms Louise Vale; Mr Yaasir Haffejee; Mr Kwanele Gumbi; Mr Jack Devnarian; Mr Bongumusa Makhathini; Mr Nkosana Mbokane; Mr Michael Sass; Mr Jim Matsho; Mr Jack Phahlane; Mr Dinkwanyane Mohuba and Ms Leanne Govindsamy.

 

The names of the 36 shortlisted candidates will be published on the parliamentary website for a period of 5 working days in order to allow the public to submit comments. The interviews will take place at Parliament from 30 August to 1 September 2017.