Western Cape Children’s Commissioner interviews: Day 2

Meeting report

After introductions, the Chairperson explained the interview procedure to be followed by the Committee.

Interview: Prof Lukas Muntingh
Ms A Bans (ANC) asked what the candidate's understanding of the Children’s Commissioner was.

[Refer to audio for candidate’s responses to interview questions]

Ms W Philander (DA) asked how the candidate envisaged the role of working with the Western Cape Provincial Government to ensure the rights of children are protected.

Mr R Mackenzie (DA) asked how the candidate would communicate the role of the Children’s Commissioner to the people of the Western Cape and South Africa at large.

Ms N Makamba-Botya (EFF) asked what value the candidate's previous job experience would add to the role of the Children’s Commissioner.

Mr G Bosman (DA) asked the candidate which government departments were tasked with delivering constitutional rights to children and how the candidate would engage with these departments to ensure they were delivering.

Ms Bans asked how the candidate would find out at a grassroots level which children are most vulnerable and in need of intervention on their behalf.

Ms Philander asked what steps the candidate would take when he found out that a child or an entire community of children were being deprived of their constitutional rights and to ascertain what the different government departments were doing about it.

Mr Mackenzie asked if the candidate was aware of the dire shortage of child care centres for disruptive behaviour in the Western Cape and asked what the candidate would do to make available more childcare centres for the placement of children.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what the candidate knew about child trafficking in the Western Cape and referred to mothers who rented their children to shoplifting syndicates and wanted know how the candidate would assist the children who are arrested while their mothers are not prosecuted.

Mr Bosman asked if the candidate was aware of the Family Violence and Sexual Offences Unit within the South African Police Service having logistical constraints and resource shortages to follow up reported sexual abuse cases and the challenge of DNA samples going missing. Mr Bosman asked how the candidate would assist the Family Violence and Sexual Offences Unit.

Ms Bans stated that there was a lack of state-funded counselling for abused children as ChildLine and Safeline have a three-month waiting list and asked how the candidate would change this.

Ms Philander asked the candidate how the education system could be made more accessible for children with special needs.

Mr Mackenzie asked the candidate how to bridge the gap between the Children’s Act and its proper implementation on ground level.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what experience the candidate had in setting up a large, newly-established office, budgeting and managing staff.

Mr Bosman stated the Children’s Commissioner would deal with monitoring and reporting and asked how the candidate would go about raising awareness in departments and the executive and what monitoring tools would be implemented.

Ms Bans asked how the candidate would manage a situation where government departments or the executive do not want to cooperate with the Office of the Commissioner.

Ms Philander asked how the candidate would defend the integrity of the Children’s Commissioner and how he would protect the functional independence of the Commissioner.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what the candidate would prioritise in ensuring that children’s rights are protected.

Mr Bosman asked how the candidate would engage with NGOs and other relevant stakeholders to encourage more public-private partnerships.

The Chairperson thanked Prof Muntingh for availing himself for the interview and for the work that he does.

Interview: Dr Naqita Alexander
The Chairperson welcomed Dr Alexander and explained the process of the interview. He stated that the candidate could ask for clarity at any point during the interview, should she require it.

Ms A Bans (ANC) asked what the candidate's understanding of the Children’s Commissioner was.

[Refer to audio for candidate’s responses to interview questions]

Ms W Philander (DA) asked how the candidate envisaged the role of working with the Western Cape Provincial Government to ensure the rights of children are protected.

Mr R Mackenzie (DA) asked how the candidate would communicate the role of the Children’s Commissioner to the people of the Western Cape and South Africa at large.

Ms N Makamba-Botya (EFF) asked what value the candidate's previous job experience would add to the role of the Children’s Commissioner.

Mr G Bosman (DA) asked the candidate which government departments were tasked with delivering constitutional rights to children and how the candidate would engage with these departments to ensure they were delivering.

Ms Bans asked how the candidate would find out at a grassroots level which children are most vulnerable and in need of intervention on their behalf.

Ms Philander asked what steps the candidate would take when they found out that a child or an entire community of children were being deprived of their constitutional rights and to ascertain what the different government departments were doing about it.

Mr Mackenzie asked if the candidate was aware of the dire shortage of child care centres for disruptive behaviour in the Western Cape and asked what the candidate would do to make available more childcare centres for the placement of children.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what the candidate knew about child trafficking in the Western Cape and referred to mothers who rented their children to shoplifting syndicates and wanted know how the candidate would assist the children who are arrested while their mothers are not prosecuted.

Mr Bosman asked if the candidate was aware of the Family Violence and Sexual Offences Unit within the South African Police Service having logistical constraints and resource shortages to follow up reported sexual abuse cases and the challenge of DNA samples going missing. Mr Bosman asked how the candidate would assist the Family Violence and Sexual Offences Unit.

Ms Bans stated that there was a lack of state-funded counselling for abused children as ChildLine and Safeline have a three-month waiting list and asked how the candidate would change this.

Ms Philander asked the candidate how the education system could be made more accessible for children with special needs.

Mr Mackenzie asked the candidate how to bridge the gap between the Children’s Act and its proper implementation on ground level.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what experience the candidate had in setting up a large, newly-established office, budgeting and managing staff.

Mr Bosman stated the Children’s Commissioner would deal with monitoring and reporting and asked how the candidate would go about raising awareness in departments and the executive and what monitoring tools would be implemented.

Ms Bans asked how the candidate would manage a situation where government departments or the executive do not want to cooperate with the Office of the Commissioner.

Ms Philander asked how the candidate would defend the integrity of the Children’s Commissioner and how she would protect the functional independence of the Commissioner.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what the candidate would prioritise in ensuring that children’s rights are protected.

Mr Mackenzie asked how the candidate would engage with NGOs and other relevant stakeholders to encourage more public-private partnerships.

The Chairperson thanked Dr Alexander and asked if she had any questions for the Committee.

Interview: Ms Lizelle Africa
The Chairperson welcomed the candidate, thanked her for availing herself for the interview and explained the process for the interview.

Ms A Bans (ANC) asked what the candidate's understanding of the Children’s Commissioner was.

[Refer to audio for candidate’s responses to interview questions]

Ms W Philander (DA) asked how the candidate envisaged the role of working with the Western Cape Provincial Government to ensure the rights of children are protected.

Mr R Mackenzie (DA) asked how the candidate would communicate the role of the Children’s Commissioner to the people of the Western Cape and South Africa at large.

Ms N Makamba-Botya (EFF) asked what value the candidate's previous job experience would add to the role of the Children’s Commissioner.

Mr G Bosman (DA) asked the candidate which government departments were tasked with delivering constitutional rights to children and how the candidate would engage with these departments to ensure they were delivering.

Ms Bans asked how the candidate would find out at a grassroots level which children are most vulnerable and in need of intervention on their behalf.

Ms Philander asked what steps the candidate would take when she found out that a child or an entire community of children were being deprived of their constitutional rights and to ascertain what the different government departments were doing about it.

Mr Mackenzie asked if the candidate was aware of the dire shortage of child care centres for disruptive behaviour in the Western Cape and asked what the candidate would do to make available more childcare centres for the placement of children.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what the candidate knew about child trafficking in the Western Cape and referred to mothers who rented their children to shoplifting syndicates and wanted know how the candidate would assist the children who are arrested while their mothers are not prosecuted.

Mr Bosman asked if the candidate was aware of the Family Violence and Sexual Offences Unit within the South African Police Service having logistical constraints and resource shortages to follow up reported sexual abuse cases and the challenge of DNA samples going missing. Mr Bosman asked how the candidate would assist the Family Violence and Sexual Offences Unit.

Ms Bans stated that there was a lack of state-funded counselling for abused children as ChildLine and Safeline have a three-month waiting list and asked how the candidate would change this.

Ms Philander asked the candidate how the education system could be made more accessible for children with special needs.

Mr Mackenzie asked the candidate how to bridge the gap between the Children’s Act and its proper implementation on ground level.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what experience the candidate had in setting up a large, newly-established office, budgeting and managing staff.

Mr Bosman stated the Children’s Commissioner would deal with monitoring and reporting and asked how the candidate would go about raising awareness in departments and the executive and what monitoring tools would be implemented.

Ms Bans asked how the candidate would manage a situation where government departments or the executive do not want to cooperate with the Office of the Commissioner.

Ms Philander asked how the candidate would defend the integrity of the Children’s Commissioner and how she would protect the functional independence of the Commissioner.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what the candidate would prioritise in ensuring that children’s rights are protected.

Mr Bosman asked how the candidate would engage with NGOs and other relevant stakeholders to encourage more public-private partnerships.

The Chairperson thanked Ms Africa for availing herself for the interview and for the work she does at the National Prosecuting Authority and asked if she had any questions for the Committee.

Interview: Ms Zakira Mohamed
The Chairperson welcomed the candidate, thanked her for availing herself for the interview and explained the process for the interview.

Ms A Bans (ANC) asked what the candidate's understanding of the Children’s Commissioner was.

[Refer to audio for candidate’s responses to interview questions]

Mr R Mackenzie (DA) asked how the candidate envisaged the role of working with the Western Cape Provincial Government to ensure the rights of children are protected.

Ms W Philander (DA) asked how the candidate would communicate the role of the Children’s Commissioner to the people of the Western Cape and South Africa at large.

Ms N Makamba-Botya (EFF) asked what value the candidate's previous job experience would add to the role of the Children’s Commissioner.

Mr G Bosman (DA) asked the candidate which government departments were tasked with delivering constitutional rights to children and how the candidate would engage with these departments to ensure they were delivering.

Ms Bans asked how the candidate would find out at a grassroots level which children are most vulnerable and in need of intervention on their behalf.

Ms Philander asked what steps the candidate would take when they found out that a child or an entire community of children were being deprived of their constitutional rights and to ascertain what the different government departments were doing about it.

Mr Mackenzie asked if the candidate was aware of the dire shortage of child care centres for disruptive behaviour in the Western Cape and asked what the candidate would do to make available more childcare centres for the placement of children.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what the candidate knew about child trafficking in the Western Cape and referred to mothers who rented their children to shoplifting syndicates and wanted know how the candidate would assist the children who are arrested while their mothers are not prosecuted.

Mr Bosman asked if the candidate was aware of the Family Violence and Sexual Offences Unit within the South African Police Service having logistical constraints and resource shortages to follow up reported sexual abuse cases and the challenge of DNA samples going missing. Mr Bosman asked how the candidate would assist the Family Violence and Sexual Offences Unit.

Ms Bans stated that there was a lack of state-funded counselling for abused children as ChildLine and Safeline have a three-month waiting list and asked how the candidate would change this.

Ms Philander asked the candidate how the education system could be made more accessible for children with special needs.

Mr Mackenzie asked the candidate how to bridge the gap between the Children’s Act and its proper implementation on ground level.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what experience the candidate had in setting up a large, newly-established office, budgeting and managing staff.

Mr Bosman stated the Children’s Commissioner would deal with monitoring and reporting and asked how the candidate would go about raising awareness in departments and the executive and what monitoring tools would be implemented.

Ms Bans asked how the candidate would manage a situation where government departments or the executive do not want to cooperate with the Office of the Commissioner.

Ms Philander asked how the candidate would defend the integrity of the Children’s Commissioner and how she would protect the functional independence of the Commissioner.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what the candidate would prioritise in ensuring that children’s rights are protected.

Mr Bosman asked how the candidate would engage with NGOs and other relevant stakeholders to encourage more public-private partnerships.

The Chairperson thanked Ms Mohamed and asked if she had any questions for the Committee.

Security clearance discussion - closed session
The Chairperson asked the public to leave the room for a short while as the Committee  needed to discuss confidential security clearance matters. The meeting reopened to the public after half an hour.

Interview: Ms Gabriela McKellar
The Chairperson welcomed the candidate, thanked her for availing herself for the interview and explained the process for the interview.

[Refer to audio for candidate’s responses to interview questions]

Ms A Bans (ANC) asked what the candidate's understanding of the Children’s Commissioner was.

Ms W Philander (DA) asked how the candidate envisaged the role of working with the Western Cape Provincial Government to ensure the rights of children are protected.

Mr R Mackenzie (DA) asked how the candidate would communicate the role of the Children’s Commissioner to the people of the Western Cape and South Africa at large.

Ms N Makamba-Botya (EFF) asked what value the candidate's previous job experience would add to the role of the Children’s Commissioner.

Mr G Bosman (DA) asked the candidate which government departments were tasked with delivering constitutional rights to children and how the candidate would engage with these departments to ensure they were delivering.

Ms Bans asked how the candidate would find out at a grassroots level which children are most vulnerable and in need of intervention on their behalf.

Ms Philander asked what steps the candidate would take when they found out that a child or an entire community of children were being deprived of their constitutional rights and to ascertain what the different government departments were doing about it.

Mr Mackenzie asked if the candidate was aware of the dire shortage of child care centres for disruptive behaviour in the Western Cape and asked what the candidate would do to make available more childcare centres for the placement of children.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what the candidate knew about child trafficking in the Western Cape and referred to mothers who rented their children to shoplifting syndicates and wanted know how the candidate would assist the children who are arrested while their mothers are not prosecuted.

Mr Bosman asked if the candidate was aware of the Family Violence and Sexual Offences Unit within the South African Police Service having logistical constraints and resource shortages to follow up reported sexual abuse cases and the challenge of DNA samples going missing. Mr Bosman asked how the candidate would assist the Family Violence and Sexual Offences Unit.

Ms Bans stated that there was a lack of state-funded counselling for abused children as ChildLine and Safeline have a three-month waiting list and asked how the candidate would change this.

Ms Philander asked the candidate how the education system could be made more accessible for children with special needs.

Mr Mackenzie asked the candidate how to bridge the gap between the Children’s Act and its proper implementation on ground level.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what experience the candidate had in setting up a large, newly-established office, budgeting and managing staff.

Mr Bosman stated the Children’s Commissioner would deal with monitoring and reporting and asked how the candidate would go about raising awareness in departments and the executive and what monitoring tools would be implemented.

Ms Bans asked how the candidate would manage a situation where government departments or the executive do not want to cooperate with the Office of the Commissioner.

Ms Philander asked how the candidate would defend the integrity of the Children’s Commissioner and how she would protect the functional independence of the Commissioner.

Ms Makamba-Botya asked what the candidate would prioritise in ensuring that children’s rights are protected.

Mr Mackenzie asked how the candidate would engage with NGOs and other relevant stakeholders to encourage more public-private partnerships.

Mr Mackenzie noted that in 2007 and 2010 there was nothing on Ms McKellar’s CV and asked what she was doing then.

The Chairperson thanked the candidate for her time and asked if she had any questions for the Committee.

Committee discussion
The Committee  agreed to discuss scoring of candidates on Wednesday morning.

The Chairperson referred to children rights organisation, Molo Songololo bringing scholars to the Children’s Commissioner interviews on 17 February. The Chairperson said the school’s principal was under the impression that the scholars were attending an inauguration ceremony. He would request the children’s indemnity forms from Molo Songololo as the Committee  felt that the school day should not be interrupted to attend the Children’s Commissioner interviews.

Day 3 interviews would commence on 19 February at 9am.

Meeting adjourned.