Short-listing of candidates for ICASA Council

Meeting report

The Chairperson informed the Committee that there had been only one withdrawal from the original list- it was Ms Ntombela Nzimande. The rest of the candidates were Dr Alison Gillwald, Dr Norman Baloyi, Ms Shirley Somo, Mr Tshepo Moloai, Ms Linda Dalbock and Dr Steven Mncube.

Mr S Kholwane (ANC) commented that the ANC as well as the task team agreed with the short-listed names.

Mr N Van Den Berg (DA) said that the DA was happy with the names put forward. After the interviews, the Committee would then submit two names from the list for the Minister’s consideration. It was important for the Committee to assist the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) towards the right track. ICASA needed strong leadership.

Ms J Killian (COPE) noted that more positions would be filled at a later stage and that the process was ongoing. The capacity of ICASA had to be expanded. All the candidates on the list had the necessary skills.

Ms P De Lille (ID) supported all the names on the list. This short-list was for the one vacancy in the Authority, however when the process is reopened more names would be added.

Mr Kholwane advised the Committee’s support staff that the Committee could only appoint a councillor and not a Chairperson. The Committee could not even recommend to the Minister who the Chairperson could be.

Mr Van Den Berg thanked the Parliamentary support staff for assisting the Committee in this regard.

The report of the Committee was adopted.

Ms Killian asked if the staff were satisfied with the list that they had given to the Committee

Ms Alma Nel, Committee Secretary, replied that the Committee Section had tried to make the list as comprehensive as possible. Everybody was included and nobody was kept out.

The meeting was adjourned.