THE Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development’s meeting to establish criteria for appointing South Africa’s first Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Ombudsperson descended into disarray, as members clashed over procedural delays, accusations of document tampering, and a proposed motion of no confidence against the committee secretary.

The meeting, chaired by the ANC’s Masefako Dikgale, was intended to finalise the shortlisting criteria for candidates applying for the newly created position of SME Ombudsperson. The office, mandated by the National Small Enterprise Amendment Act, will adjudicate disputes and complaints within the small enterprise sector and report to the Minister of Small Business Development and Parliament.

However, the proceedings were marred by infighting and accusations of incompetence. The EFF’s Babalwa Mathulelwa led the charge, proposing a motion of no confidence against the Committee Secretary for the late distribution of documents. “A motion of no confidence against the Committee Secretary must be considered due to the deliberate withholding of documents from some Members,” Mathulelwa said, alleging that the documents had been tampered with.

Her claims were met with fierce opposition. The ANC’s Lindelwa Sapo interjected, stating: “We should have waited for more factual information related to the delay before criticising the Secretary. The meeting should adopt the agenda and proceed with the business of the day.”

The DA’s Hendrik Krüger echoed this sentiment, calling Mathulelwa’s motion “out of order” and questioning its appropriateness. “Is it correct to raise and entertain a motion of no confidence against the Committee Secretary at this stage?” he asked.

The chairperson attempted to defuse the tension, apologising to the committee secretary for the “harsh words levelled at him through the WhatsApp group by Mathulelwa”. She also pointed out that delays in document distribution were not uncommon and should not be blamed solely on the secretary.

Despite the chaos, the committee managed to outline the key criteria for shortlisting candidates. Members emphasised the need for a legal background, relevant experience, and maturity. The ANC’s Cristopher Malematja argued that “maturity should be considered as one of the main requirements for a potential candidate”, while others suggested that CVs should include ages to assess this.

The committee also resolved not to conduct the initial screening of candidates, leaving this task to the department. Kruger insisted that “the screening function should be left to the relevant staff within the department”, a view that gained consensus.

However, concerns about conflicts of interest arose when the DA’s Shara Singh objected to the committee acting as a screening body. “If the committee is going to act as a screening committee, there will be concerns related to conflicts of interest,” she said. The chairperson dismissed these concerns, stating: “This has been done before, and there would be nothing amiss about the committee screening the aspirant candidates.”

The meeting concluded with the chairperson thanking members for their contributions and confirming that interviews would take place from March 25 to 27. The final shortlist will be scrutinised and recommended to the National Assembly for adoption.

As the committee moves forward with this critical appointment, the internal discord and procedural missteps raise questions about its ability to conduct a transparent and efficient process. With the small enterprise sector eagerly awaiting the establishment of the Ombudsperson’s office, the pressure is on for the committee to deliver—without further controversy.

Intersting Quotes:

“A motion of no confidence against the Committee Secretary must be considered due to the deliberate withholding of documents from some Members.” – Mathulelwa (EFF)
“We should have waited for more factual information related to the delay before criticising the secretary." – Sapo (ANC)
“Is it correct to raise and entertain a motion of no confidence against the Committee Secretary at this stage?” – Kruger (DA)
“Maturity should be considered as one of the main requirements for a potential candidate.” – Malematja (ANC)

“If the Committee is going to act as a screening committee, there will be concerns related to conflicts of interest.” – Singh (DA)

The clock is ticking for the Portfolio Committee to resolve its internal disputes and deliver a credible candidate for this pivotal role. The small enterprise sector—and the nation—will be watching closely.

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Portfolio committee descends into chaos over SME Ombudsperson appointment