Parliament is obligated in terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 and the Public Service Commission Act (No. 46 of 1997) to recommend candidates for appointment as National Public Service Commissioners. The request from the presidency to fill two vacancies on the National Public Service Commission was referred on the 18 March 2011 to the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, for consideration and report. Subsequently a request to fill an additional vacancy was sent to the Committee on the 8 April 2011. In total, three vacancies were to be filled.