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The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional today resolved that the National Assembly should recommend four candidates to be appointed to the Information Regulator, three full-time candidates and one part-time candidate.
 
Committee Chairperson Mr Bulelani Magwanishe indicated that the vacancies will arise at the end of November 2021, when the term of office of the current members come to an end.
 
“The multi-party committee has unanimously agreed to recommend that the current chairperson, Adv Pansy Tlakula, be retained as the chairperson of the regulator. Two other current members, Mr Johannes Collen Weapond and Adv Lebogang Cordelia Stroom-Nzama, have also been recommended for a second term. All of them will serve in a full-time capacity,” said Mr Magwanishe. The committee further recommended that Mr Mfana Gwala be considered for the position on a part-time basis.
 
He said this follows after the committee considered the referred letter from the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, requesting the NA to initiate a process to fill vacancies on the Information Regulator, in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia). The Popia provides for the President of the Republic to appoint the Chairperson and the members of the Regulator on the recommendation of the National Assembly. The Act requires that the NA must recommend a person for appointment who is: nominated by a committee of the NA composed of members of parties represented in the Assembly and approved by the Assembly by a resolution adopted with a supporting vote of a majority of the members of the NA.
 
The committee advertised the positions requesting members of the public to nominate candidates for appointment as a member of the Information Regulator, receiving 29 nominations or applications, in all. Of these, one candidate withdrew from the process.
 
Before shortlisting took place, all candidates were requested to complete a questionnaire that also contained disclosure provisions. In addition, the committee agreed that the academic qualifications of those shortlisted would be verified and that Parliament should be asked to facilitate screening of the candidates. The committee agreed to short-list eight candidates, as follows: Ms Anchal Baniparsadh, Mr Ezra Pillay, Dr Sebolawe Tladi, Prof JCW van Rooyen, Adv Pansy Tlakula, Mr Mfana Gwala, Adv Johannes Collen Weapond and Adv Lebogang Stroom-Nzama. Yesterday, the committee interviewed all eight candidates, making use of a virtual platform.
 
Mr Magwanishe said the committee expressed appreciation to all the candidates for making themselves available to be considered for the appointment.
 

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, Bulelani Magwanishe