ICASA Vacancy: Committee Recommendation

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Communications and Digital Technologies

11 May 2020
Chairperson: Mr B Maneli (ANC)
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Meeting Summary

Video: Portfolio Committee on Communications,11 May 2020
Audio: ICASA vacancy: Committee recommendation; MDDA vacancy: shortlisting of candidates for interviews 

In a virtual meeting, the Committee deliberated on the short-listed names to send to Acting Communications Minister Jackson Mthembu for appointment to ICASA.

The Committee recommended that the National Assembly approves the eight names. Once approved, Minister Mthembu must then select five of the names to fill vacancies on the Council. The Chairperson announced that there was another resignation at ICASA, but this had not been formally communicated to the Committee yet. In its recommendations, the Committee considered the ratio of male to female before it decided who would be removed from the ANC’s list.

The Committee agreed that the eight names recommended in order of priority are: 1) Keabetswe Modimoeng (the existing acting chairman), 2) Yolisa Kedama, 3) Zolani Kgosietsile Matthews, 4) Peter Zimri, 5) Luthando Mkutumela, 6) Charles Lewis, 7) Amanda Cuba and 8) Sandisiwe Ncemane. The Report was adopted unanimously and without amendment.

Meeting report

The Chairperson welcomed all Members and guests. He said the Committee would be dealing with the Report recommending candidates for the ICASA vacancy, which the Committee would consider for adoption.

ICASA Report

The Committee Secretary read the Report on the process of the recommendation of candidates for the filling of five vacancies in ICASA council for adoption:

A letter dated 6 August 2019 was received from the Minister of Communications – informing the National Assembly of the existence of a vacancy on the ICASA Council as a result of the removal of Mr Rubben Mohlaloga as a Councillor and Chairperson of the Council; and requesting the National Assembly to commence with the process of filling the vacancy in terms of section 5 of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act, 2000 (Act No 13 of 2000).

Another letter dated 7 August 2019 was received from the Acting Speaker of the National Assembly –informing the Minister of Communications and the Committee that four vacancies would arise in April 2020 as a result of the end of term of the following Councillors: Mr Paris Mashile, Ms Botlenyana Mokhele, Mr Peter Zimri and Mr Keabetswe Modimoeng; and informing the Minister of Communications that the National Assembly would commence with the process of identifying candidates to fill the four vacancies in terms of section 5 of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act, 2000 (Act No 13 of 2000).

 The Committee considered the letters from the Minister of Communications and the Acting Speaker of the National Assembly and resolved that the committee secretariat should proceed with the process of publishing an advertisement in the media calling for the nomination of persons to fill the five vacancies on the ICASA Council. The advertisement was published in all eleven official languages in two national newspapers, two regional newspapers and seven community media newspapers. Seventy-five nominations were received.

On 11 February 2020, the Committee met to consider the criteria and skills required to fill the five vacancies and unanimously resolved that the following 20 candidates be shortlisted for interviews:

Ms Botlenyana Mokhele; Mr Peter Zimri; Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng; Mr Edmund Baloyi; Ms Yolisa Kedama; Mr Ashraf Patel; Mr Sipho Tsotetsi; Ms Sandisiwe Ncemane; Ms Zamokuhle Khanyile; Mr Junior Khumalo; Dr Charles Lewis; Mr Zolani Matthews; Ms Dikeledi Mushi; Ms Nompucuko Nontombana; Mr Lebogang Bopalamo; Mr Kenilworth Choeu; Ms Amanda Cuba; Adv Luthando Mkumatela; Mr Phosa Mashangoane and Mr Linden Petzer.

 As the Committee was preparing for the interviews, a letter was received from Mr Sipho Tsotetsi to inform the Committee of his withdrawal from the process. On 25, 26 and 27 February 2020, the Committee interviewed 18 candidates, with an exception of Ms Mokhele who could not attend the interview due to ill health. She was later interviewed by means of a virtual meeting platform on 4 May 2020.

 On 11 May 2020, the Committee deliberated on the interviews taking into consideration the skills of current Councillors, skills required for the incoming Councillors as well as issues of continuity in leadership of ICASA and unanimously recommended that the National Assembly approve the following eight names from which the Minister should appoint five as ICASA Councillors in order of priority: Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng, Ms Yolisa Kedama, Ms Zolani Kgosietsile Matthews, Mr Peter Zimri, Adv. Luthando Mkutumela, Dr Charles Lewis, Ms Amanda Cuba, and Ms Sandisiwe Ncemane

Discussion

Ms P Faku (ANC) reflected that the process of deliberations had been a good one.

The Report was adopted without amendment.

Ms N Khubeka (ANC) thanked all Members of the Subcommittee. She said the Committee had wanted to recommend many more candidates, but could not due to the limited number of candidates that could be recommended.

Mr L Molala (ANC) said he wanted to hear from Mr C Mackenzie (DA) and Mr V Pambo (EFF) as these Members are on the Subcommittee.

Mr Mackenzie said he was shot in January and had been unable to participate in the interview process and shortlisting of candidates, but felt that the committee had done a good job.

The meeting was adjourned.

 

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