(Subcommittee) MDDA Board Interviews Day 4

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Communications and Digital Technologies

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

The Portfolio Committee's Interview Sub-Committee met to interview five of the shortlisted candidates for the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board vacancies. However, one of the candidate's experienced technical issues and the interview was rescheduled to the next day. Those interviewed were: Mr Dumile Mateza; Ms Tengimfene Nikelwa; Mr Hlengani Mathebula; Ms Nolitha Pietersen; Ms Andiswa Ngcingwana. Each candidate was given fifteen minutes to introduce themselves and present on a topic. Thereafter, the candidate was asked questions. 

Meeting report

ICASA councillor matter
[Note: YouTube Livestream was late in going live so the start of this initial discussion could not be captured].

The Committee Secretary, Mr Thembinkosi Ngoma, said the Committee had not yet received a legal opinion on the matter referred to it by the Office of the Speaker.

The Chairperson asked if the Members wanted to raise concerns they felt were not adequately responded to.

Ms P Van Damme (DA) said she was concerned about the letter being dated in April and the present date is 28 May. When resignation letters are received in future, the Committee should ensure reasons are given.

Mr L Molala (ANC) said he was concerned that the person resigned on 11 April 2020 and two months later only, the Committee received the letter. Someone in the middle should account for this.

Ms N Kubheka (ANC) said she did not want the Committee to take incorrect decisions which are affected and can be challenged by law.

The Chairperson said the Committee followed due process when it submitted a report to Parliament and that it should wait to consider the legal advice and reconvene on an emergency basis once it is received. Another report should then be sent to Parliament after considering the legal advice. The councillor will be at ICASA until July 2020.

Mr Molala proposed that the Committee meet on Sunday 31 May 2020 if it has already received legal advice so that it can finalise the matter before the National Assembly sits.

Ms Van Damme said she agreed with getting a legal opinion first.

Ms Khubeka said a decision should not be taken without legal advice.

The Committee Secretary said he would seek a legal opinion immediately after the meeting. The next meeting of the National Assembly would take place on 9 June which gives the Committee enough time to seek legal advice and finalise the report.

MDDA Board Interviews
The procedure for each of the five 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.

Interview 16: Mr Dumile Mateza
Mr T Gumbu (ANC) asked how the candidate's experience would assist the MDDA board if he is appointed. He asked the candidate to discuss the role of the MDDA in promoting community media in the digital environment.

Ms P Faku (ANC) asked if the candidate thought the community broadcasting sector should be competing with commercial broadcasters. She asked the candidate what needs to be done to diversify the media landscape to ensure media diversity. If given an opportunity to serve on the MDDA board, she asked the candidate what he would change and why.

Ms N Kubheka (ANC) 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 thought the MDDA could do to improve that situation. With a decline in print media consumption and a move toward digitisation, she asked what the candidate thought the MDDA outlook towards community print funding should be.

Mr C Mackenzie (DA) asked the candidate to explain what he meant by diversity when he said the print media is diversified. He asked how the candidate would address the closure of radio stations. He asked how the candidate would get established large groups or print groups to give up their territory given that their market is shrinking all the time.

Mr B Maneli (ANC) asked for clarity on how the candidate thought the MDDA in approving applications should balance the need to diversify community media versus their sustainability.

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

Interview 17: Ms Tengimfene Nikelwa
Mr Gumbu asked what the candidate would change at the MDDA if appointed. If there is mismanagement of funds in the MDDA, what strategy would the candidate use to address this. He asked what the candidate's understanding was of media freedom in South Africa.

Mr Mackenzie asked what unique value the candidate thought she could bring to the board which would assist with its governance. He asked what unique skill or value the candidate could bring to people who are submitting funding proposals to the MDDA. Given the decline in print media, he asked how the candidate would deal with considering proposals for print media. He asked the candidate to name state owned entities or government departments that the MDDA should be working closely with and asked what topics it should be addressing.

Ms Faku asked what the candidate thought the role of the board was for good corporate governance. How can regulating community broadcasting in the digital era be improved. What should be the role of the MDDA in promoting community media in the digital environment.

Ms Kubheka referred to the current economic situation due to COVID-19 and asked what the candidate thought the MDDA could do differently in future to assist community radio stations to retain their audience. 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 thought the MDDA could do to improve that situation.

Mr Maneli asked for clarity on the candidate’s comments on ownership.

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

Interview 18: Mr Hlengani Mathebula
Mr Gumbu asked the candidate what changes he would bring to MDDA and why. He asked for the candidate's understanding of the nature of the relationship between ICASA and MDDA. He asked what the candidate proposed so MDDA could remain relevant and financially sustainable in the digital era.

Mr Mackenzie asked if the candidate still worked for SARS. He asked if there are any state-owned companies that the candidate would use to help assist in training or rolling out new media applications. He asked for further information on the candidate’s involvement in more aspects of media.

Ms Faku asked if the candidate thought the current business model the MDDA was using was correct. She asked what the candidate would change at the MDDA if appointed.

Ms Kubheka referred to the current economic situation which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. She asked what the candidate thought the MDDA could do differently in future in assisting community radio stations to retain their audience.

Mr Maneli asked for clarity on the candidate's points on sustainability in the MDDA. He asked how the candidate thought the MDDA could balance the need to diversify versus sustainability in how the MDDA approves applications.

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

Interview 19: Ms Nolitha Pietersen
Mr Gumbu asked how the candidate's experience would contribute to change in the MDDA and why. He asked how the candidate thought the MDDA could remain relevant and financially sustainable in the digital era. He asked what the candidate understood by media freedom in South Africa.

Mr Mackenzie asked how many boards and board committees the candidate served on. He asked what the maximum number of boards is that one should serve on to be effective. He asked why the candidate wanted to serve on the MDDA board specifically and if she had time for this. He asked the candidate to highlight an issue between ICASA, Sentech and MDDA that is current and controversial and asked how she would address it.

Ms Faku asked what the candidate would do differently at the MDDA if appointed. She asked what the role of the MDDA board is for good governance.

Ms Kubheka referred to the current economic situation which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. She asked what the candidate thought the MDDA could do differently in future in assisting community radio stations to retain their audience.

Mr Maneli asked for clarity on what role the MDDA can play in ensuring that there is still room for improvement on media freedom.

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

Interview 20: Ms Andiswa Ngcingwana
Mr Mackenzie asked where the MDDA was in relation to digital migration and asked how the candidate saw this impacting the mandate of the MDDA. He asked what the candidate understood by new media and if there was any part of new media that she thought could be leveraged in the poorer rural communities instead of conventional print. What would the MDDA need to do to make this happen?

Ms Faku referred to the funding model of community radio and asked the candidate to expand on this. She asked how small community media could be strengthened to empower communities and SMMEs. She asked what the relationship is between ICASA and the MDDA.

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 thought the MDDA could do to improve that situation. She referred to the current economic situation which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. She asked what the candidate thought the MDDA could do differently in future in assisting community radio stations to retain their audience.

Mr Maneli asked for clarity on how the candidate saw the MDDA playing an important role in improving the advancement of media freedom in the country.

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

Meeting adjourned.

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