PRESENTATION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL SPACE AGENCY BOARD CANDIDATES

TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE (PC)

VENUE: V475 TIME: 10:00-13:00

DATE: 21 OCTOBER 2009

PURPOSE OF THE PRESENTATION

• To brief the PC on legislation and short-listing process

OUTLINE

• Mandate of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA)

• Functions of the Board• Composition of the Board• Appointment of Board members-Process• Advisory panel & Advert• Short-listing process• Criteria/categories for short-listing• Summary of short-listed candidates• Recommendation to the Minister• Conclusion

Mandate of the SANSA

• To promote the peaceful use of space

• Support the creation of an environment conducive to industrial development in space technology

• Foster research in space science, communications, navigation and space physics

Mandate of the SANSA (cont..)

• Advance scientific, engineering and technological competencies

• Foster international co-operation in space-related activities

Functions of the Board

• Oversee the functions of the Agency;• Monitor research priorities and programmes of

the Agency;• Give effect to the strategy of the Agency, in the

performance of its functions; and• Notify the Minister immediately of any matter that

may prevent or materially affect the achievement of the objects (mandate) of the Agency

Composition of the Board

• The Agency (SANSA) act through its Board

• The Board must consist of:• A chairperson appointed by the Minister• Not less than 10 and not more than 15 members;

and• The chief executive officer, as an ex officio member

Appointment of the Board members- Process

• The appointment process of the SANSA Board is outlined in section 7 of the Act

• The Act requires that the Minister:• publish a notice in the Gazette and two national

newspapers• appoint a panel of experts to compile a shortlist• submit a shortlist and curriculum vitae of shortlisted

candidates to National Assembly for approval

Appointment of the Board members- Process (cont…)

• A shortlist must not consist of more than 30 nominees

• The National Assembly should submit an approved short-list from which the Minister should select the candidates to appoint to the SANSA Board

Advisory Panel & Advert

• A notice (advert) was published in the government gazette, Sowetan, Mail & Guardian, City Press and Sunday Times

• The 6 candidates were appointed by the Minister as advisory panel members based on their expertise (space science and technology)

Advisory Panel & Advert (cont…)

Name Institution & Designation

General Piet Thirion Department of Defence

Mr Linden Petzer Department of Communications: Chief Director -Radio & Satellite Communication 

Mr Willie van Biljon Advanced Technologies & Engineering Co. (Pty) ltd- Chief Executive Officer

Mr Allan Holloway Ansys Integrated Systems: Managing Director

Dr Boni Mehlomakulu Department of Science and Technology: GE: Research, Development & Innovation

Dr Phil Mjwara Director-General: Department of Science and Technology (Chairperson)

Shortlisting process

• The Department of Science & Technology received 94 nominations/applications from public and national departments

• Section 7 (3) of the Act provides that the Board must consist of persons who :

• are South African citizens or have permanent residence in the Republic

Shortlisting process (cont…)

• have distinguished themselves in the field of space science and technology sector or possess relevant qualifications, experience or skills in relation to some aspects of the function of the Agency

• are representative of the various sectors in the field of space science and technology

• have legal qualification• have financial expertise

Shortlisting process (cont…)

• In view of section 7 (3) of the Act, the advisory agreed on the selection criteria

• In addition to the criteria the advisory panel also considered Gender & Race of the nominees to ensure a balance in the demographic representation of the country

Criteria/categories for shortlisting

• Application of Space Science and Technology

• Technical

• Legal or Law

• Business and Finance

• Governance and Human Resource

Summary of shortlisted candidates

Category Gender RaceFemale Male African Indian Coloured White

Application 3 2 2 3

Technical - 6 1 1 4

Business & Finance

2 1 2 1

Governance & HR

3 4 7

Legal or Law 2 2 2 1 1

Total 9 16 14 1 1 9

Recommendation to the Minister

• The advisory panel recommended 25 candidates who are eligible for appointment to the Minister

• The security screening was conducted on the shortlisted candidates to ensure compliance with section 8 (1) of the Act

• The remaining pool of curriculum vitae did not meet the criteria for shortlisting

• The shortlist and curriculum vitae of shortlisted candidates were submitted to the National Assembly by the Minister

Conclusion

• Department of Science and Technology complied with the requirements of the Act for appointing the Space Agency Board

• The process was transparent and fair. All the received curriculum vitae were submitted to the advisory panel

• The panel of experts was appointed by the Minister in line with section 7 (1) (b) of the Act

• The notice was published in the gazette & two national newspapers in line with section 7 (1) (a) of the Act

conclusion (cont…)

• A shortlist of not more than 30 was compiled by the panel of experts in line with section 7 (1) (b) of the Act

• Candidates were shortlisted in line with section 7 (3) of the Act

• Security screening was concluded on shortlisted candidates to ensure compliance with section 8 (1) of the Act

• The shortlist and curriculum vitae were submitted to National Assembly in line with section 7 (1) (c) of the Act

Conclusion (cont…)

• It is therefore recommended that the Portfolio Committee on Science & Technology consider and approves the shortlist presented by the Department of Science & Technology

KE YA LEBOGANDIYA BULELANGIYA BONGABAIE DANKIETHANK YOU