19 July 2022: OUTA wrote to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, calling for the extension of the period for applications for the new commissioners for the commission, after the committee allowed just 22 days for nominations and applications. OUTA wanted this extended to have a more inclusive and publicly engaged process, to improve the chances of finding the best possible candidates for this crucial commission. OUTA's letter to the committee is here.

8 September 2022: OUTA joined a group of more than 40 civil society organisations and prominent individuals who wrote to the portfolio committee to object to the limited public participation process on commenting on the shortlisted new CGE commissioners. The group called for the public comment period to be extended beyond 10 days, for publication of the board candidates’ resumes and for the limit on comment length to be lifted. “In the current South African context gender-based violence wreaks unabated destruction; women continue to bear the brunt of inequality, poverty, and unemployment (where women are employed, they continue to earn on average 30% less that what men earn for work of equal value); and hate crime, hate speech, and discrimination against LGBTIQ+ communities goes unchecked, often with deadly consequences. It cannot be disputed that the mandate of the CGE and the experience, expertise, and temperament of its commissioners is ever more important,” said the organisations in the letter. “It is also no secret that the CGE has lately been mired in scandal, has failed to carry out its mandate diligently and impactfully, and is plagued by governance woes, accusations of in-fighting and bullying, and disturbingly high staff turnover.” The letter is here.