(Subcommittee) MDDA Vacancies: shortlisting discussion

Meeting report

Since this meeting was the first meeting of the subcommittee in 2021, the subcommittee needed to decide how it would plan to structure its committee programmes for the year.

The objective of the meeting was related to the shortlisting of the two vacancies at the Media, Diversity and Development Agency Board (MDDA). The usual procedure dictates that the Committee would be make the two appointments.

Shortlisting of candidates

Mr Thembinkosi Ngoma, Committee Secretary, informed the Committee that the two vacancies emanated from the expiry of contracts for two board members from October 2020. The Committee had advertised those two positions last year. It has since received 56 applications. The list of those candidates, as well as the summaries of their full CVs, were available. He asked the Committee to determine a number for how many candidates would be shortlisted. Further, he had sent out a document detailing the skills set of current MDDA board members which he hoped would assist Committee Members to make decisions in the shortlisting process.

The Chairperson suggested four or five candidates in total for shortlisting.

Mr C Mackenzie (DA) sought clarity on the Chairperson’s suggestion: did he mean five shortlisted per position which would make it ten in total?

The Chairperson confirmed this.

The Chairperson’s proposal received full support from Members.

Adoption of sub-committee programmes

The Committee then moved to the adoption of the subcommittee programmes.

Mr Ngoma informed the Committee that the next meeting on the shortlisting of candidates would take place on 2 March from 6 to 7:30pm. The meeting would be followed by a meeting of interviews on 9 March. The convention is that interviews would be scheduled seven days after shortlisting.

Further, he informed the Committee that the subcommittee’s application for an oversight visit is still pending. Subject to the House Chairperson’s response, the Committee may not be able to hold interviews on 16 March. There is still the procedure of security checks and qualification verification which would normally take two weeks. He suggested the Committee have its deliberation after the interview. Once the subcommittee has finalised the process, the full Committee will find a date in its programme to discuss and adopt the recommendation of the subcommittee.

Mr Mackenzie corrected Mr Ngoma that 8 March is Tuesday. He otherwise expressed his broad support of the programme

Mr Ngoma corrected the error.

The Chairperson pointed out that it was problematic if the Committee’s oversight visit clashes with its deliberation on interviewed candidates. This could also mean connectivity challenges in some areas. It is important that the Committee prioritise its oversight visit this term.  

Ms Z Majozi (IFP) agreed that the subcommittee needed to review the times as some Members may also be at a House sitting and there would not be sufficient time to make it to that meeting on time.

Ms N Khubheka (ANC) agreed with Ms Majozi’s concern.

The Committee agreed that Members needed to be flexible on programmes as the oversight visit is the priority for this term.

Mr Ngoma said that he noted the time clash as there would be a plenary which started at 2pm with no indications of what time the House would adjourn. He also agreed with the Committee’s view that Members would have to be flexible if there are clashes but still recommended the Committee proceed with its programmes.

The meeting was adjourned.