Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba has called for the nomination of suitable candidates to be added to a Department of Public Enterprises’ (DPE’s) database of potential State-owned enterprises’ board directors.

As part of the DPE’s strategy for the companies it managed, the department aimed to develop and maintain a database of potential board members and would select and recruit the potential candidates during 2012.

Former DPE Deputy Minister Ben Martins, now Transport deputy minister, said earlier this year that the DPE was required to closely monitor State-owned companies, particularly surrounding governance, performance and board appointments, to enable the early identification of potential challenges and swift mitigation.

Qualifying candidates were expected to have suitable qualifications, expertise and experience in the fields of strategy, engineering, manufacturing and technology, as well as financial, auditing, investment and asset management skills.

The department would also examine candidates with skills and experience in corporate governance, legal and risk, human resources, economics, aviation, transport, logistics and project management sectors and fields.

Other sectors included energy, forestry, information and communication technology, skills development and labour.

Further, the DPE stated that the potential candidates must be “committed to fairness, freedom of expression, openness and accountability”, as well as have the ability to think strategically.

The department was responsible for facilitating economic development through the operational efficiency and investment programmes of State-owned enterprises, including Broadband Infraco, Alexkor, Denel, South African Airways, Transnet and Eskom.

Nominations, which would be accepted from individuals, civil society structures, organisations and institutions, were open until June 29.