ATC221125: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies on the filling of twelve board vacancies for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), dated 24 November 2022.
Communications and Digital Technologies
Report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies on the filling of twelve board vacancies for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), dated 24 November 2022.
South African Broadcasting Corporation is governed by the Broadcasting Act 4 of 1999. Section 13(1) states that 12 non-executive members of the Board must be appointed by the President on the advice of the National Assembly. With the term of the previous SABC Board that expired on 15 October 2022, the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies was tasked with ensuring that a new Board was nominated and appointed before the end of the term of the current Board.
A letter dated 13 June 2022 was received from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies (i) informing the National Assembly about the impending expiry term of office of the current South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Board of Directors on 15 October 2022; and (ii) requesting the National Assembly to initiate the recruitment process in terms of section 13 of the Broadcasting Act, 1999 (Act No.4 of 1999) to constitute the SABC Board. The referral to the Committee was published on the Announcements, Tablings & Committee Reports (ATC) on 30 June 2022 during constituency period.
The Chairperson on behalf of the Committee in line with Rule 158 of NA Rules considered the letter from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies and resolved that the Secretariat proceed with the process of publishing an advertisement in the media calling for the nomination of persons to be appointed to constitute the SABC Board. The Committee advertised for the Board nominations, and the advert was closed on 6 August 2022. The advertisement was published in all eleven South African official languages in one national newspaper, 2 regional newspapers and 8 community newspapers. A total of 120 nominations were received including names that appeared more than once due to individuals being nominated more than once by different people and/or organisations.
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 constituting the SABC Board and report back to it.
On 8 September 2022, the Subcommittee met to consider the criteria, skills and experience required to constitute the SABC Board and unanimously recommended that the Committee approves the following shortlisted candidates: Ms Mamodupi Mohlala-Mulaudzi; Mr David Maimela, Mr Jack Phalane; Dr Renee Horne, Prof Sathasivan Cooper; Mr Dinkwanyane Mohuba, Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi, Ms Sandika Daya, Ms Cynthia Stimpel, Adv Tseliso Thipanyane; Mr Quentin Green; Mr Mpho Tsedu; Mr Shadrack Bokaba; Prof Franz Kruger, Mr Zolile Zamisa; Mr Langa Zita; Ms Nomazulu Mda; Ms Rearabetsoe Motaung; Mr Khathutshelo Ramukumba; Mr Thembisa Fakude; Ms Ntshwareng Bapela; Ms Phathiswa Magopeni; Ms Nwabisa Matyumza; Mr Lance Rothschild; Mr Kingdom Moshuenyane; Mr Paris Mashile; Dr Oscar Van Heerden;
Ms Aifheli Makhwanya; Mr Lumko Mtimde; Ms Palesa Kadi; Mr Zolani Matthews; Ms Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki; Ms Fundiswa Skweyiya-Gushu; Ms Magdalene Moonsamy; Ms Yvonne Yolelwa Sikhunyana; Ms Lindiwe Jacqueline Maepa and Ms Mandisa Titi.
The shortlisted candidates' interviews were conducted from 13 to 16 September 2022. Qualification verification, State Security Clearance, and Public Participation were part of the appointment process. The Subcommittee allocated these processes to be conducted from 8 to 22 September 2022 parallel to the interview process. The Subcommittee deliberated on the interviewed candidates on 27 September 2022 focusing on consideration of public comments and responses to legal advice from Parliament’s Legal Services and resolved that the recommendation for the 12 names could not be finalised until the security vetting process was completed. The qualification and public comments were concluded within two weeks from 8 September 2022, with the security vetting concluded on
21 November 2022.
During and subsequent to the interview process the following nominees withdrew from the selection process: Ms Nomazulu Mda, Ms Sandika Daya, Ms Nwabisa Matyumza (during interview process) and Ms Cynthia Stimpel (during vetting process).
On 24 November 2022 the Subcommittee met to finalise the deliberations of candidates to be recommended after the security vetting was completed and agreed to recommend to the Committee that the twelve vacancies be filled with the following candidates: Dr Renee Horne; Adv Tseliso Thipanyane; Mr Khathutshelo Ramukumba;
Prof Franz Krüger; Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi; Ms Phathiswa Magopeni; Ms Aifheli Makhwanya; Ms Magdalene Moonsamy; Ms Rearabetsoe Motaung; Mr David Maimela; Mr Dinkwanyane Mohuba and Mr Mpho Tsedu.
The Subcommittee made a decision to select three additional names which will serve as a reserve pool to cater for any eventuality given the period it has taken to complete the process. The following names on the pool are confirmed as: Mr Zolani Matthews;
Ms Palesa Kadi and Mr Quentin Green.
On 24 November 2022, the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies met to consider the recommendation of the Subcommittee. The Committee recommends that the National Assembly approve the names of Dr Renee Horne; Adv Tseliso Thipanyane; Mr Khathutshelo Ramukumba; Prof Franz Krüger;
Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi; Ms Phathiswa Magopeni; Ms Aifheli Makhwanya; Ms Magdalene Moonsamy; Ms Rearabetsoe Motaung; Mr David Maimela; Mr Dinkwanyane Mohuba and
Mr Mpho Tsedu.
The Portfolio Committee made a decision to select three additional names which will serve as a reserve pool to cater for any eventuality given the period it has taken to complete the process. The following names are confirmed as Mr Zolani Matthews; Ms Palesa Kadi and
Mr Quentin Green.
Report to be considered.