Issued by: SA Communication Service
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MMF AND THE EXTENSION OF TIME FOR COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER ON THE MMF.
The term of office of the Board of Directors of the MMF appointed in 1993 comes to an end during July 1996. Nominations to the new Board were invited from the Public during April and May this year, 62 nominations were received. A short list of 30 was identified, of which 27 candidates were interviewed by an advisory panel appointed by the Minister. The Panel included The two chairpersons of the Portfolio Committees from the National Assembly and the Standing Committee from the Senate, Patricia de Lille and S Mongwaketse respectively as well as Nomali Shabalala - a lawyer and Paul Heinemann from an insurance background and Ketso Gordhan the Director General in the Department of Transport.
A draft Bill before Parliament to amend the existing MMF Bill to bring it in line with our new constitutional reality is also being amended to increase the size of the Board, broaden the areas of expertise to be considered for inclusion on the board and the procedure for making recommendations to the Minister on who should serve on the Board. The Bill allows for a minimum of 11 and a maximum of 12 people to be appointed by the Minister.
The Minister has chosen the new Board based on the recommendations of his advisory panel. It is a Board that is fairly representative of both the demographic reality in our country and of the professional skills required to guide the MMF over the coming three years. The members bring to the Board legal, medical, financial, economic, actuarial and insurance related skills as well as experience in Transport, issues that impact on road users and the disabled.
The 11 members appointed to the Board who take up their positions on 26 July are as follows:
1. P J Botbill
Admitted to the English Bar in 1955 and was also Admitted as an advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa in 1956. Admitted as an Attorney of the Supreme Court of South Africa in 1961. Extensive legal experience, particularly in the field of MVA claims, including publications on the subject. Was a partner in the firm Aubrey Molin, Botbijl and Company. Currently retired from active practice.
2. Fred Haslett
Serves on the existing Board of the MMF. Has spent his working career as a senior executive in the insurance industry.
3. Robert Julius Koch
Has a Bsc Honours as well as LLB and LLD. Was admitted as a Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland, 1974.
Full time private consultant specialising in compensation for personal injury and death and other aspects of damages for financial loss.
4. D T Louw
Has formal training in the field of Economics, but has spent most of his working career as an activist working with and on behalf of the Disabled people. Mr Louw is himself a disabled person.
5. Stimela Joseph Mabaso
Has a D Phil Et Litt. is currently Professor and Head of Department of Clinical and Applied Pschology, Medunsa.
7. George Maanda Negota
Has a B Juris as well as B.A. (Hons) and LLB and is completing his M. Com.
Has worked extensively in the transport sector, including as chair of the National Transport Policy Forum and has since 1992 been a Professional Assistant: Edward Nathan & Friedland Inc.
8. Abdool Gaffoor Suliman Osman
Has a B. Comm and is a Chartered Accountant (SA). He is currently a Director: Farror Jeena Incorporated (Public Accountants and Auditors).
9. Sonia Elizabeth Rudman
Has amongst other qualifications a Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifing, Diploma in Intensive Nursing Science, Certificate in Emergency Medicine, Flight Medical Attendance Certificate and a Diploma in Business Management. Is involved in the insurance industry as a Medical Marketing Manager.
10. Anthony David Twine
With a BA degree in Economics he has done extensive research and planning work, especially with forecasting models. Works currently for Econometrix.
11. Anette van der Merwe
With a MB. Ch B and diplomas in Health Administration, Public Health amongst others. Is currently the Executive Director: National Association of Private Hospitals.
Following the publication of the draft White Paper on the MMF on 7 June with a deadline for comments from the public of 30 July there have been a number of requests for an extension of time to make inputs. The National Assembly and Senate Committees on Transport have planned to hold extensive public hearings during August. To accommodate the requests and the need to benefit from the feedback that will emerge from the National Assembly and Senate hearings on the draft White Paper, the date for comments has been extended to 1 September 1996. This will be advertised in newspapers as well as the Government Gazette shortly.
Issued by Minister Mac Maharaj 5 July 1996