Hon colleagues, once again the ANC members of the Portfolio Committee on Communications have chosen a down-on-his-luck crony to fill a vacancy on one of the government entities that reports to Parliament. The two best candidates we interviewed, who were short-listed by all parties on the committee, were not even seriously considered by the ANC, proving once again that the multiparty selection process is a farce.
While Mr Manyi has a good knowledge of the MDDA, he demonstrated no passion or empathy for the struggling community media environment in which the entity operates. He had no practical experience of working with small community-based groups, mostly in rural areas, who struggle to give voice to their communities.
His tenure on the board will, no doubt, be driven by three ambitions: To use the networks of community media as propaganda tools for President Zuma's ANC government; to interfere with and disrupt the mainstream print media under the guise of print media transformation; and to drive the ANC's desire for a media tribunal in an attempt to bully journalists to come around to its way of thinking and threaten media freedom.
The nurturing of the committee media to ensure the sustainability of fledging enterprises that reflect the views, culture and issues of their markets, will not be high on his agenda. Mr Manyi's track record in Public Service is hardly exemplary. He was suspended from his post as Director- General of Labour after a diplomat objected to the content of a conversation between them. Is this appropriate conduct for a desirable board member who should be above reproach? His tenure as Cabinet spokesman was high profile for all the wrong reasons. His confrontational approach to those who failed to agree with his views or comply with his agenda eventually led to his unemployment once his contract was up. He does not have the leadership calibre to persuade independent minded people to his cause.
He is a passionate supporter of breaking up or at least changing ownership of mainstream media, particularly those perceived to be anti-ANC. While the media landscape needs greater diversity, surely rapidly changing technology and market dynamics are being far more effective change agents than any heavy-handed approach of government fixated on transforming history.
Once again, the ANC has not chosen a candidate who is the best fit for purpose, but a crony who will toe the party line and pursue its narrow agenda of centralised control. The DA objects to Jimmy Manyi's appointment to the MDDA Board. [Applause.]