(Subcommittee) MDDA Board Interviews Day 2

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Communications and Digital Technologies

27 May 2020
Chairperson: Mr B Maneli (ANC)
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Meeting Summary

Video: Portfolio Committee on Communications (Subcommittee) 27, May 2020
Audio: (Subcommittee) MDDA Interviews day 2                                  Part 2                                                     Part 3

The Portfolio Committee's Interview Sub-Committee met to interview eight of the shortlisted candidates for the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board vacancies. These were: Ms Marina Clarke; Mr Edwin Naidoo; Mr Lionel Adendorf; Ms Nomfundo Kakaza; Dr Ayanda Vilakazi; Ms Blaise Koetsie; Mr Simphiwe Mbabane; Ms Brenda Leonard. Each candidate was given fifteen minutes to introduce themselves and present on a topic. Thereafter, the candidate was asked questions.
 

Meeting report

The procedure for each of the four interviews was that the Chairperson welcomed the candidate, explained the interview process and introduced the Committee members. The candidate introduced herself and made a presentation to the Committee. Refer to the audio for each candidate’s response to questions.

Meeting report
Interview 5: Ms Marina Clarke

[The audio captured only the end of Ms Clarke’s presentation as YouTube Livestream only opened this point]

Mr T Gumbu (ANC) asked how the candidate's experience in working with people with disabilities will assist in changing the MDDA and why.

Mr C Mackenzie (DA) said the MDDA mandate faced the current challenge of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Assuming there was no budget for the MDDA except for director fees, what would the candidate do given this paradigm to meet the MDDA mandate. He asked the candidate to name one or two state owned companies that she could envisage MDDA partnering with and how this strategic partnership could be leveraged to meet the MDDA mandate outcomes.

Ms P Faku (ANC) asked what can be done differently in relation to the current funding model of the MDDA. She asked what the role of MDDA was in promoting community media in the digital environment. She asked what the candidate’s views are on community media promoting cultural diversity.

Ms Z Majozi (IFP) asked if the candidate thought disability and languages should be promoted more intensely in community media or if religion, traditions and culture should be equally promoted. She asked if the candidate saw the MDDA having a future in the coming generation to promote community media.

Ms N Kubheka (ANC) referred to the COVID-19 pandemic and asked what the candidate thought the MDDA could do differently in future in the assistance it offers to community radio stations to retain their audience. In 2019 the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) had to close a number of community radio stations due to severe non-compliance and non-payment of signal distribution fees. She asked what the candidate would do to improve this situation.

Mr B Maneli (ANC) said the candidate emphasised access and asked what the candidate's perspective was in trying to balance access as a right enshrined in the Constitution versus the sustainability of community media platforms in light of the new digital media.

He thanked the candidate and gave her an opportunity to give closing remarks.

Interview 6: Mr Edwin Naidoo
Mr Gumbu asked what the role of the MDDA was in promoting community media in a digital environment. He asked what the candidate understood by media freedom.

Mr Mackenzie said the MDDA is financed by the fiscus which is controlled by the ruling party. When oversight was done in Vembe in Limpopo, the community was found to be a tight-knit community and its political and traditional leadership is well established and accepted. If one’s salary were being paid by government, one would be more inclined to give the mayor some air time. He gave an example, saying what if an opposition party needed to campaign in Vembe district, what would the candidate if he were an MDDA councillor communicate about political neutrality and how would the candidate enforce this in the run-up to elections.

Ms Faku referred to the MDDA funding model and said that sometimes funding can be given by foreign entities, but independence can then become an issue. She asked the candidate to elaborate on the funding model. She asked if the candidate thought the community broadcasting sector should be competing with commercial broadcaster and the public broadcaster. In relation to digital transformation, how can community media remain relevant and adopt new ways of doing business.

Ms Kubheka referred to the MDDA’s mandate and asked what the candidate's understanding was of the mandate and how he would ensure that the MDDA is revitalised. She asked what the MDDA should do to assist with community media projects as the current funding is allegedly not enough.

The Chairperson thanked the candidate and gave him an opportunity to give closing remarks.

Interview 7: Mr Lionel Adendorf
Mr Gumbu asked what the candidate's understanding was on the nature of the relationship between the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the MDDA.

Mr Mackenzie said he thought the candidate had quite a unique grasp on new digital media and how he would include this in the MDDA going forward. He was very impressed with the candidate's view that this would be a low-cost initiative. He asked how long the candidate has been a director on the NEMISA board and referred to NEMISA’s broadcasting equipment which was kept at Auckland Park and kept being stolen due to break-ins. NEMISA could not put together an asset register to account for how many items it owned. He asked what contributions the candidate had made since September 2019 to improve governance at NEMISA. He asked why the candidate said the MDDA needed to be applauded since it had poor audit results and corruption and mismanagement was rife. On what basis was the candidate complimenting and applauding the MDDA? He noted the candidate has been a controversial figure in the media resulting in conflict between the candidate and the ANC in the Western Cape. He asked if the candidate viewed these personal political conflicts as having an effect on his ability to be an effective director of the MDDA given that local elections are coming up.

Ms Faku asked what the candidate understood by media freedom. What should be done to diversify the media landscape to ensure media diversity. She made reference to how the coloured and Indian community was assisted. She asked what the role of the board would be to ensure good corporate governance.

Ms Khubeka asked what the relationship is between ICASA and the MDDA. In the current economic situation due to COVID-19, she asked what the candidate thought MDDA could do differently in future in assisting community radio to retain its audience. New digital technologies offer opportunities and threats and print media projects seem to be particularly concerned about this as it has resulted in their receiving much less advertising. Based on this statement, she asked what the candidate would suggest so that the MDDA changes the narrative.

Mr Maneli asked for clarity on ownership and the influence of funders in the process. He asked the candidate what could be done in a practical sense to curb fronting in relation to diversification.

The Chairperson thanked the candidate and gave him an opportunity to give closing remarks.

Interview 8: Ms Nomfundo Kakaza
Mr Gumbu asked about the legislative prescripts that govern the broader ICT sector and asked the candidate to mention one or two of these prescripts. He asked what the candidate's understanding was of grant funding by the MDDA and how this is disbursed.

Mr Mackenzie asked for the candidate's opinion on the work of the MDDA given that it is constituted as a company with a board. He asked if she believed that the outcomes of the MDDA could be better served by having a department within the Department of Communications instead of a board. Would this arrangement achieve the outcomes of the MDDA board. He asked if the candidate would support the prosecution of a delinquent director of a state-owned company in terms of the Companies Act. He asked what the major negative issues affecting the MDDA are currently and what steps the candidate would take to remedy this if appointed.

Ms Faku asked what the candidate thought would be the role of MDDA in promoting community media in the digital environment during COVID-19. She asked what the role of MDDA would be in ensuring that there is less duplication. She referred to funding challenges and said that board members tend to depend on government funding as opposed to coming up with innovative ways to use the funding they do have or to generate funds. She asked the candidate's views on this.

Ms Kubheka asked how the candidate with her expertise could assist the MDDA to improve. The current economic climate with the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to budget reductions, she asked what innovative approaches the candidate would suggest for the MDDA going forward.

Mr Maneli asked for clarity on financial challenges having done monitoring and evaluation. He asked what the candidate thought was the problem was and how applications for MDDA funding should be handled in maintaining diversity.

The Chairperson thanked the candidate and gave her an opportunity to give closing remarks.

Interview 9: Dr Ayanda Vilakazi
Mr Gumbu asked how the candidate's experience would assist the MDDA board. He asked what the candidate proposed for how the MDDA could remain relevant in the digital era.

Mr Mackenzie asked about the number of directorships the candidate held. He asked how many directorships one could hold before becoming ineffective. He asked the candidate to define the current relationship between the MDDA and ICASA and the MDDA and Sentech. He asked the candidate to highlight any challenges between these entities. What would he recommend the MDDA do to fix these issues if they exist.

Ms Faku said that MDDA would assist radio stations with funding, but they would sometimes be unsustainable and asked what the candidate would advise could be done differently. She asked what the role of the MDDA board was in the context of good governance. She asked what the candidate understood by media freedom in South Africa. She asked for clarity about the candidate's comments on capacity.

Ms Kubheka asked the candidate how he would assist the MDDA as in 2019 ICASA had to close a number of community radio stations due to severe non-compliance and non-payment of signal distribution fees by some stations. She asked what the candidate thought that MDDA could do to improve the situation. With the current economic climate due to COVID-19, she asked what the candidate thought the MDDA could do differently in assisting community radio stations to maintain their audience.

Mr Maneli asked how the candidate would create a balance in ensuring there was access in relation to diversity versus sustainability.

The Chairperson thanked the candidate and gave him an opportunity to give closing remarks.

Interview 10: Ms Blaise Koetsie
Mr Gumbu asked about legislative prescripts that govern the broader ICT sector and asked the candidate to mention one or two of these prescripts. He asked what the candidate's understanding was of media freedom in South Africa. He asked what the candidate would propose for the MDDA to remain relevant and financially sustainable in the digital era.

Mr Mackenzie asked if the candidate was admitted to the bar as she served a stint as a candidate attorney and if not, why. He said she did not need to answer if this was too personal. He referred to someone whose father had listened to a particular radio station for 70 years. He asked what the candidate would do to communicate with such people given the decline in print media and asked what advice she would give to people who bring application proposals so that their voice can also be heard. He asked for clarity on the candidate's point on helping individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and previously disadvantaged backgrounds as there is a difference between the two. He asked how the candidate would approach a proposal from a group of people who come from a disadvantaged, but not previously disadvantaged background, if appointed. He found it interesting that the candidate referred to digital platforms as challenges and not opportunities and said the candidate had great ideas on how to leverage these opportunities. Mr Mackenzie saw this as an opportunity as opposed to a challenge. He asked the candidate to present such ideas for other forms of media that are still relevant. He asked if the candidate had heard of NEMISA and how the MDDA would work closely with it.

Ms Faku asked what the candidate would change at the MDDA if given the opportunity and why. She asked how community broadcasting in a digital era could be improved. She asked what the relationship was between the MDDA and ICASA.

Ms Kubheka asked what innovative funding approaches the candidate would suggest for the MDDA going forward in light of the current economic climate due to COVID-19. She said new digital technologies offer opportunities and threats and certain print media projects are particularly concerned about this due receiving much less advertising than digital platforms. She asked what the candidate would suggest the MDDA do to change the narrative.

Mr Mackenzie asked for clarity on the candidate’s current job as it did not reflect on her CV.

Mr Maneli said the candidate referred to African stories that need to be a focus without influence from the Western world. He asked if she thought this was something that could be regulated. He asked what should the MDDA do differently.

The Chairperson thanked the candidate and gave her an opportunity to give closing remarks.

Interview 11: Mr Simphiwe Mbabane
Mr Gumbu asked how the candidate's qualifications and experience in the legal field would assist the MDDA board if he were appointed. He asked the candidate's understanding of the nature of the relationship between ICASA and MDDA. He asked what the candidate would propose for how MDDA could remain relevant and financially sustainable in the digital era.

Mr Mackenzie asked the candidate what unique skills, thinking or values he would bring to the MDDA which it does not currently have. Given the decline in print media, he asked what the candidate would use as a substitute for this within a community and how the candidate would introduce this.

Ms Faku said ICASA had a moratorium on issuing licences to small or community radio stations. There were mismanagement and corruption challenges. Considering the candidate's experience, she asked what the candidate would do differently so that when community radio stations are given funding, mismanagement would not occur. She asked what the candidate would change in how MDDA was currently doing its work and why.

Ms Khubeka said in 2019 ICASA had to close a number of community radio stations due to severe non-compliance with rules and non-payment of signal distribution fees. She asked what the candidate would do to improve this situation. With a decline in print media and a move toward digitisation, she asked what the MDDA outlook should be towards funding community print media.

Mr Maneli referred to ICASA closing some community radio stations and asked what proactive steps MDDA should take to prevent this non-compliance since MDDA approved the funding. He added that the closure of the radio stations affect the access and diversity which the MDDA stands for.

The Chairperson thanked the candidate and gave him an opportunity to give closing remarks.

Interview 12: Ms Brenda Leonard
Mr Gumbu asked what the candidate would do if funds were mismanaged at the MDDA. He asked what the candidate's understanding was of media freedom in South Africa.

Mr Mackenzie asked what unique skills the candidate would bring to the board. He asked if she thought the MDDA needs to exist as a company with a board or could it be better served as a desk or department within the Department of Communications, given the current economic climate due to COVID-19. He asked for a weighting of where MDDA currently was between print broadcast and new digital media and where it should be or where the candidate would like to see it in three years. He asked the candidate to identify one challenge between either ICASA or Senctech and the MDDA and what the candidate would suggest could be done to fix this.

Ms Faku asked the candidate what she thought needed to change at MDDA and why. She asked for more detail on a new business model and revenue stream which the candidate referred to. She asked what fundraising the candidate could bring to the MDDA if given the opportunity. She asked how local community radio stations could survive the current economic climate due to COVID-19 as some are currently not operating

Ms Kubheka referred to the 30% which the candidate said the government would give MDDA for assistance, but did not fulfil. She asked if the candidate thought this was due to a communication breakdown and she asked how this could be revived. New digital technologies offer opportunities and threats and certain print media projects are particularly concerned about this due to receiving much less advertising than digital platforms. She asked what the candidate would suggest the MDDA do to change the narrative.

Mr Maneli asked how the candidate would reposition the MDDA. There was a time when it had clean audits and good governance. He asked, if appointed to the board, what the candidate could contribute to the MDDA to bring it back to its former glory.

The Chairperson thanked the candidate and gave her an opportunity to give closing remarks.

Meeting adjourned.

 

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