The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services has received nominations for suitable candidates to be recommended for appointment to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).

The Committee was mandated by the National Assembly to initiate and oversee a process to nominate and recommend seven suitable candidates for appointment as commissioners to the SAHRC. By Friday, 16 September 2016, the closing date set for the nominations, the Committee had received a total of 80 applications/nominations.

The Committee is impressed with the calibre of nominees and applicants received and says this is an indication that South Africans thoroughly applied their minds in putting forward their nominees. The Committee is also pleased that there are 30 women applications/nominations on the list.

The names and CVs of candidates can be accessed via Parliament’s website at http://www.parliament.gov.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=9548. Members of the public are encouraged to scrutinise the applications and send their comments or objections to: vramaano@parliament.gov.za for the attention of Mr Vhonani Ramaano. The deadline for comments or objections is Friday, 30 September 2016.

Candidates will receive a questionnaire from the Committee which they are required to complete. The information obtained from questionnaires will be used as supplementary information in order to assist the Committee with short-listing and interviewing.

Once more, we want to appeal to people who will be making comments and objections to disclose their identity in order to authenticate their submissions. It should also be borne in mind that objections against a nominee or applicant will not be automatically used to eliminate a particular candidate. The Committee will follow due process in validating such objections.

The Committee will commence with the short-listing process on 5 October 2016 after the closing date for comments and objections. Interviews are scheduled to take place on 13 and 14 October.

The Committee commends South Africans for their involvement in this process, ensuring a significantly high number of nominations submitted. This points to the seriousness with which the public takes the processes of Parliament, as well as the role of this important Chapter Nine institution in our constitutional democracy.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on ustice amd Correctional Services, Dr Mathole Motshekga