The Justice and Constitutional Development Portfolio Committee on Wednesday shortlisted 10 candidates to be interviewed for the two vacant positions at the Information Regulator amid calls for a swift appointment process.
The Vacancies
The vacant positions arose after:
The vacancies had led to the Information Regulator being unable to hold meetings due to a lack of a quorum.
The Shortlist
The committee had received 21 applications. Members of the Information Regulator must be appropriately qualified, fit, and proper South African citizens.
Full-time position candidates:
Part-time position candidates:
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Advocate Thato Moeeng
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Alison Tilley
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Zama Mbatha Awuzie
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Moses Mulauzi
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Nande Mheshe
The Timeline
Committee chairperson Xola Nqola said the interviews will be on 5 May , and the candidates will be subjected to a vetting process.
“If we get the vetting results soon, we may look for a sooner date for the interviews. We will be guided by the process of vetting.”
The Warning
DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach pleaded with the committee to speed up the appointment process and avoid a repeat of what happened in the protracted selection of the Deputy Public Protector, which took two years to complete.
“We must not allow the length of time to lapse between the various steps as we did with the Deputy Public Protector. If we can bear that in mind.”
Nqola echoed her sentiments, noting that the term of office for current serving members will expire before the end of the year, and interviews for soon-to-be vacant positions will have to be done in advance.
The Bottom Line
Ten candidates. Two positions. Interviews on 5 May.
The Information Regulator has been unable to meet. The committee is under pressure to move fast.
The lesson of the Deputy Public Protector saga is fresh. This time, they say, it will be different.
