Parliament calls for MDDA board nominations

Section 4 of the MDDA Act provides for six (out of the nine) members of the Board to be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the National Assembly, after a process including participation by the public in the nomination process; transparency and openness; and the publication of a shortlist of candidates for appointment.

Two Board members, who were appointed by the President in terms of Section 4 (1) (b) of the MDDA in January 2006 (for three years), have their terms ending in January 2009. Parliament has accordingly advertised a call for nominations to be submitted by the 26th August 2008. For one to be a Board member, the candidate must be • committed to fairness, freedom of expression, openness and accountability • a South African citizen residing in South Africa. The Board, viewed collectively, must be representative of a broad cross section of the population of the Republic and must possess suitable qualifications, expertise and experience in community media, social, labour and development issues, media economics, financial management and funding, advertising and marketing, journalism and broadcast programming, media research, media training, literacy and education, media law and information and communication technology policy.

Nominations must contain the full name and address of the person/organisation making the nomination, a signed acceptance of the nomination, curriculum vitae providing the candidate's full name, ID number and gender • contact address, telephone and fax numbers • previous experience, quoting dates and organisations concerned • academic qualifications.

Nominations must reach the Committee Secretaries, 3rd Floor, 90 Plein Street, PO Box 15, Cape Town, by not later than 26th August 2008.

Enquiries: Rita Schaafsma, Tel: 021-403-3742; Fax: 086 619 9194; or Noluthando Skaka, Tel: 021-403-3751, 083 709 8520 .