Independent Communications Authority Bill: voting

This premium content has been made freely available

Communications and Digital Technologies

06 April 2000
Share this page:

Meeting Summary

A summary of this committee meeting is not yet available.

Meeting report

COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
6 April 2000
SACRA BILL: VOTING
 


Documents Handed Out
Proposed Amendments: SACRA Bill (included in the minutes)

SUMMARY
The proposed amendments to the Bill were voted on, some being briefly discussed and amended whilst the majority were agreed upon. The Committee adopted the amended Bill as well as the Committee's Report.

MINUTES
The Committee voted on each of the proposed amendments (see below for the voting and discussion on each of these clauses). The Committee adopted the Bill as amended after the ANC supported the adoption with 8 votes and the minority parties rejected it with 4 votes.

Voting on Proposed Amendments
SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AUTHORITY BILL
[B14-2000]

LONG TITLE
On page 2, from the first line, to omit "South African Communications Regulatory Authority" and to substitute "Independent Communications Authority of South Africa".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment


On page 2, from the fourth line, to omit "South African Communications Regulatory Authority" and to substitute "Independent Communications Authority of South Africa".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

PREAMBLE
1. On page 2, from the third line, to omit the second paragraph and to substitute:
Acknowledging that the establishment of an independent body to regulate broadcasting and telecommunications is required,
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CONTENTS OF ACT
On page 2, in line 9, to omit "South African Communications Regulatory Authority" and to substitute "Independent Communications Authority of South Africa".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

2. On page 2, in line 10, to omit "South African Communications Regulatory Authority" and to substitute "Independent Communications Authority of South Africa".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CLAUSE 1
On page 4, in line 28, to omit "and" and substitute "or".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

2. On page 4 in line 30, to omit "South African Communications Regulatory Authority" and to substitute "Independent Communications Authority of South Africa".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
3. On page 4, in line 34, to omit "3(2)" and to substitute "5".

CLAUSE 2
On page 6, in line 13, to omit "and".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

On page 6, in line 14, to omit "Republic." and to substitute "public interest; and".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

3. On page 6, after line 14, to add the following paragraph:
(c) achieve the objects contemplated in the underlying statutes.
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CLAUSE 3
1. On page 6, from line 18, to omit subsection (1) and to substitute:
(1) There is hereby established a juristic person to be known as the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa.
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

2. On page 6, after line 21, to add the following subsections:
The Authority is independent, and subject only to the Constitution and the law, and must be impartial and must perform its functions without fear, favour or prejudice.
(4) The Authority must function without any political or commercial interference.
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CLAUSE 5
1 On page 6, in line 34, to omit "no fewer than five and no more than".

Ms D Smuts (DP) objected to this amendment. She felt that there had to be at least 9 councillors.

Ms S Vos (IFP) agreed saying that it was in the interest of a more accountable industry which placed a greater emphasis on the broadcasting of local content, that there should be a strong regulatory authority.

Mr R Pieterse (ANC) said that it was immaterial whether there were 9 councillors or 15. The quality of the candidates was important.

The ANC decided to caucus on the issue during the interval. They subsequently decided to stick with the amendment and the DP's proposal was voted against, despite other minority parties supporting the DP.

2. On page 6, from line 35, to omit "advice of the Portfolio Committee on Communications" and to substitute "recommendation".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
3. On page 6, in line 41, after "(2)" to insert "(a)".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

4. On page 6, after line 41, to insert the following paragraph:
(b) In the absence of the chairperson, the remaining councillors must from their number elect an acting chairperson, who, while he or she so acts, may perform all the functions of the chairperson.

Ms Vos felt that it would strengthen the broadcasting if there was a permanent deputy chairperson specifically tasked with broadcasting.

Ms Smuts said that there should be a vice chairperson for both broadcasting and telecommunications. Ms Vos agreed with this proposal. The amendment however stood as the ANC opted for the acting chairperson position.

5. On page 6, in line 46, to omit "cross-selection" and to substitute "cross-section".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
6. On page 6, in line 47, after "Republic;" to insert "and".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
7. On page 6, in line 48, after "possess" to insert "suitable".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
8. On page 6, in line 50, after "law," to insert "marketing, journalism, entertainment, education,"
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
9. On page 6, in line 51, after "finance" to insert "or any other related expertise or qualifications."
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

10. On page 8, in line 1, after "fairness," to insert "freedom of expression,".

Whilst Ms Smuts agreed with the amendment she wanted this to be amended by there being a "commitment to freedom of expression" to be inserted among the requirements. She thus moved that after line 51 there be a subsection (c) introduced reading "had demonstrated a commitment to freedom of expression". The chairperson said that this had been the wording used in the Independent Broadcasting Act. He said that the Independent Broadcasting Act's exact formulation had to be used. The committee agreed with this and the amendment was past with this additional amendment.

CLAUSE 6
1. On page 8, in line 5, to omit "or continue to serve".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

2. On page 8, from line 8, to omit paragraph (c) and to substitute:
(c) at the relevant time holds, or during the preceding 12 months held, an office of profit under the State;
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

3. On page 8, from line 10, to omit paragraph (d) and to substitute:
(d) at the relevant time is, or during the preceding 12 months was, a member of Parliament, any provincial legislature or any municipal council;

The Committee deleted this proposed amendment after the ANC won an 8-4 vote. The ANC voted against the amendment while the minority parties voted for it.

4.On page 8, in line 14, to omit "controlling or any substantial" and to substitute "direct or indirect".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

5. On page 8, in line 16, after "partner" to insert "or associate".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

6. On page 8, in line 25, to omit "or".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

7. On page 8, after line 25, to insert the following paragraph:
(k) has been sentenced, after the commencement of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act No.200 of 1993), to a period of imprisonment of not less than one year without the option of a fine; or
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CLAUSE 7
1. On page 8, from line 32, to omit subsection (1) and to substitute:
(1) The chairperson holds office for a period of five years as from the date of his or her appointment.
(2) (a) Subject to paragraph (b), the other councillors hold office for a period of four years as from the date of their appointment.
(b) Such three of the other councillors appointed to the first Council constituted after this Act takes effect as are determined by lot in accordance with Schedule 2, must vacate their offices upon expiration of a period of two years as from the date of their appointment.
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

2. On page 8, in line 37, to omit "one" and to substitute "three".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

3. On page 8, in line 39, to omit "subsection (1)" and to insert "subsections (1) and (2)".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

4. On page 8, from line 44, to omit subsection (5) and to substitute:
(5) Every councillor serves in a full-time capacity to the exclusion of any other remunerative employment, occupation or office which is likely to-
(a) interfere with the exercise by any such councillor of his or her functions in terms of this Act or the underlying statutes; or
(b) create a conflict of interests between such employment, occupation or office and his or her office as councillor.
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CLAUSE 8
Clause rejected.
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
NEW CLAUSE
1. That the following be a new Clause:
Removal from office
8. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a councillor may be removed from
office on account of-
(a) misconduct;
(b) inability to perform the duties of his or her office efficiently;
(c) absence from three consecutive meetings of the Council without the permission of the Council except on good cause shown;
(d) a contravention of section 7(5);
(e) failure to disclose an interest in terms of section 12(2)(a) or voting or attendance at, or participation in, proceedings of the Council while having an interest contemplated in section 12(1); or
(f) his or her becoming disqualified as contemplated in section 6(1).
(2) A councillor may be removed from office only on-
(a) a finding to that effect by the National Assembly; and
(b) the adoption by the National Assembly of a resolution calling for that councillor's removal from office.
(3) The President-
(a) may suspend a councillor from office at any time after the start of the proceedings of the National Assembly for the removal of that councillor;
(b) must remove a councillor from office upon adoption by the National Assembly of the resolution calling for that councillor's removal.
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CLAUSE 9
1. On page 10, in line 11, to omit "or".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
2. On page 10, in line 12, to omit paragraph (d) and to substitute:
(d) dies; or
(e) becomes permanently incapable of doing his or her work.
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
3. On page 10, in line 16, after "office" to insert", unless the National Assembly directs that such councillor holds office for a longer period which period may not exceed four years".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CLAUSE 10
1. On page 10, in line 20, to omit "approval" and to substitute "concurrence".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
2. On page 10, in line 20, after Finance "to insert", subject to any applicable national legislation envisaged by section 219(5) of the Constitution".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CLAUSE 11
1. On page 10, in line 29, to omit "two" and to substitute "seven".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
2. On page 10, in line 30, to omit "two" and to substitute "seven".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CLAUSE 12
1. On page 10, in line 39, after "or" to insert "in any other manner".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
2. On page 10, in line 42, to omit "member or business partner" and to substitute "member, business partner or business associate".

The Committee amended the Amendment by replacing "business associate" with "associate"

3. On page 12, after line 4, to insert the following subsection:
(3) If any councillor fails to disclose any interest as required by subsection (2) or, subject to that subsection, if he or she is present at the place where a meeting of the Council is held or in any manner participates in the proceedings of the Council, the relevant proceedings of the Council shall be null and void.
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
4. On page 12, in line 6, to omit "maximum fine of R100 000" and to substitute:
fine not exceeding R250 000 or to imprisonment not exceeding five years, or to both such fine and imprisonment
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CLAUSE 13
Clause rejected.
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

NEW CLAUSE
1. That the following be a new clause:
Validity of proceedings
13. Subject to section 12, a decision taken by the Council or an act
performed under that decision is not invalid merely by reason of-
(a) any irregularity in the appointment of a councillor;
(b) a vacancy in the Council; or
(c) the fact that any person not entitled to sit as a councillor sat as such at the time when the decision was taken,
provided such decision was taken by a majority of the councillors present at the time and entitled so to sit, and those councillors at the time constituted a quorum.
The Committee agreed to this Amendment
CLAUSE 15
Clause rejected.

NEW CLAUSE
1. That the following be a new Clause:
Financing of and accounting by Authority
15.(1)The Authority is financed from money appropriated by
Parliament.
(2) The chief executive officer contemplated in section 14(1)(a) is, in accordance with section 36 of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No.1 of 1999), the accounting officer of the Authority and charged with the responsibilities referred to in that Act which include, amongst others, responsibilities regarding auditing, financial control, budgetary control and reporting.
(3) All revenue received by the Authority in a manner other than in accordance with subsection (1) must be paid into the National Revenue Fund within 30 days after receipt of such revenue.
Cheques drawn by the Authority must be regarded to have been duly issued and signed on its behalf if issued under the joint signatures of the accounting officer and another member of the staff of the Authority designated by the Council.

The DP registered its opposition to the new clause 15 because of 15(1) and (3). This was their way of signalling that they thought that a different funding device ought to have been set up at that stage.

Ms Vos said that there had to be a mechanism to make it possible in terms of the Constitution to have other funding.

The ANC voted for the amendment while the minority parties voted against it. The Amendment stood after the ANC won an 8-4 vote.

CLAUSE 16
Clause rejected.

NEW CLAUSE
1. That the following be a new Clause:
Annual report
16. (1) The Council must-
(a) supply the Minister with such information and particulars as he or she may in writing require in connection with the activities of the Authority; and
(b) as soon as may be reasonably practicable after the end of each financial year but in any event within three months of the end of the financial year, supply the Minister with copy of-
(i) the annual report of the Authority;
(ii) the financial statements of the Authority referred to in section 40(1)(d) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999; and
(iii) the Auditor-General's report on those statements
(2) For purposes of this section, the annual report referred to in subsection (1)(b)(i) must include, amongst others-
(a) information regarding licences granted, renewed, amended, transferred, suspended or revoked; and
(b) such other information as the Minister may in writing require.
(3) The Minister must table a copy of the annual report in Parliament within 30 days after it has been received by him or her if Parliament is then sitting and, if Parliament is not in sitting, within 14 days after the next ensuing sitting of Parliament.
The amendment was slightly amended by changing "40(1)(d)" to "40(1)(e)" in 16(1)(b)(ii).

There was a protracted drawn out discussion on this amendment. Ms Smuts in essence argued that the annual report should come to Parliament and not to the Minister. She said that it was the Public Entities that sent their reports to the relevant Department and Minister. Her argument was that the Council was a Constitutional Institution answerable to Parliament and not the Executive. The Minister could in any case get the reports from Parliament, since they were public documents. It had been decided by the Constitutional Court that in respect of Constitutional Institutions, these could not send their annual reports to the Minister and the Department.

It was however pointed out that according to section 40(1) (f) of the Public Finance Management Act, the Accounting Officer for a Constitutional Institution had to submit reports not only to Parliament but also an executive authority, which in this case was the Minister. If one looked at all the other Chapter 9 (of the Constitution) institutions, none of them generated revenue. This was why this institution had to be distinguished from the other Chapter 9 institutions and had to be treated differently.

The ANC voted for the amendment whilst the DP, supported by the other minority parties, voted against it. The ANC won an 8 - 4 vote.

CLAUSE 17
1. On page 16, in line 2, to omit "6(1)(e) to (k)" and substitute "6(1)(d) to (I)".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

2. On page 16, in line 13, after "committee" to insert ", including the Broadcasting Technical Committee and Broadcasting Monitoring and Complaints Committee referred to in section 21 of the IBA Act,"
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

3. On page 16, in line 15, to omit "with the approval of the Minister and the Minister of Finance".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CLAUSE 18
1. On page 16, from line 27, to omit paragraph (b) and to substitute:
(b) If any councillor contemplated in paragraph (a) is not appointed in terms of section 5, the termination of that person's tenure of office must be dealt with in accordance with any terms and conditions relating to such termination in the agreement governing his or her appointment as councillor.
(c) If the agreement does not contain any such terms and conditions, that person's position must be considered by the Minister in concurrence with the Minister of Finance in the light of all relevant circumstances, including-
(i) the legitimate expectations of the councillor;
(ii) any financial constraints on expenditure by the Authority;
(iii) the prospect of further employment of that person.
(d) If the councillor is not satisfied with any offer made by the Minister, the matter must be referred to arbitration in terms of the Arbitration Act, 1965 (Act No. 42 of 1965).
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CLAUSE 20
1. On page 18, from line 16, to omit "IBA" up to and including "Authority" in line 17 and to substitute:

underlying statutes must be regarded to have been issued, granted or given by the Authority
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

NEW CLAUSE
1. That the following be a new Clause:
Savings
22. (1) Anything done before the commencement of this Act under or in terms of a provision repealed or amended by this Act must be regarded, unless clearly inappropriate, to have been done under or in terms of the corresponding provision of this Act.
(2) Any reference to any of the former authorities in any law must be regarded, unless clearly inappropriate, to be a reference to the Authority.
(3) The Authority is the legal successor of the former authorities.
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

CLAUSE 24
1. On page 18, in line 35, to omit "South African Communications Regulatory Authority" and to substitute "Independent Communications Authority of South Africa".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

2. On page 18, in line 37, after "Gazette" to insert", except section 18(2) which must be regarded as having come into operation on 30 March 2000".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

SCHEDULE
1. On page 20, in the third column, to omit "South African Communications Regulatory Authority", wherever it occurs, and to substitute "Independent Communications Authority of South Africa".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

2. On page 20, in the third column, to insert the following item:

2 The amendment of section 2 by the insertion of the following paragraph after paragraph (g):
(gA) promote the empowerment and advancement of women in the broadcasting services;
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

3. On page 20, in the third column, to omit item 21, and to substitute:
21. The amendment of section 22-
(a) by the substitution of paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of the following paragraph:
"(a) who are not subject to any of the disqualifications of the nature contemplated in section [5] 6 of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act. 2000."; and
(b) by the deletion of subsection (3)(b).
The Committee amended this Amendment by deleting [5] from (a) leaving "…section 6".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

4. On page 22, in the third column, to omit "South African Communications Regulatory Authority", wherever it occurs, and to substitute "Independent Communications Authority of South Africa".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

5. On page 24, in the third column, to omit "South African Communications Regulatory Authority", wherever it occurs, and to substitute "Independent Communications Authority of South Africa".
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

NEW SCHEDULE
1. The following be a new Schedule:
Schedule 2
DETERMINATION BY LOT FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 7(2)(b)
1. Upon having appointed the six additional councillors in terms of section 5 of this Act, the National Assembly must forthwith proceed, in an open and transparent manner, to determine by lot, as required by section 7(2)(b) of this Act, which three of such six additional councillors must vacate their offices upon the expiration of two years after their appointment, for which purpose the National Assembly must designate from its own number the person who must conduct the lot (hereinafter referred to as the designated person).
2. The designated person must thereupon ensure that the name of each one of the six additional councillors is written on a separate piece of paper of equal size and identical shape and colour.
3. The designated person must thereafter display the six pieces of paper contemplated in item 2 to every person who is present at the place where the lot is being conducted and who is desirous of inspecting any such piece of paper.
4. The designated person must thereafter fold every such piece of paper in such a manner that the name thereon is not visible, and place all such pieces of paper in an empty container.
5. The designated person must thereupon appoint an impartial person (hereinafter referred to as the drawer) to draw three pieces of paper from the said container.
6. The designated person must thereafter shake the container in such a manner as to thoroughly mix the pieces of paper therein, and shall hold such container in such a position that the drawer is unable to see the pieces of paper inside.
7. The drawer must thereafter draw three pieces of paper from such container and hand them to the designated person without unfolding any of them.
8. The designated person must then unfold each of the three pieces of paper handed to him or her as contemplated in item 7, read out the names written thereon and display every such piece of paper to every person who is present at the place where the lot is being conducted and who is desirous of inspecting the same.
9. The three persons whose names have been so drawn, must vacate their offices as councillors two years after the date of their appointment as such.
The Committee agreed to this Amendment

The Committee made a few additional amendments to the existing Schedules. In the schedule containing the amendment or repeal of sections of the Independent Broadcasting Act, points 20 and 26 were deleted. Point 21 was amended to read "The repeal of section 22(1) and 22(2). In the schedule containing the amendment or repeal of sections of the Telecommunications Act, point 23 was deleted and point 24 amended to read section 28(3) is repealed.

The committee will still have to look more closely at further amendments to the schedules which could be done at a later stage since the Bill would still take a while to come into operation. In the interim period the Independent Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act will still be in operation.


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

 

Audio

No related

Documents

No related documents

Present

  • We don't have attendance info for this committee meeting

Download as PDF

You can download this page as a PDF using your browser's print functionality. Click on the "Print" button below and select the "PDF" option under destinations/printers.

See detailed instructions for your browser here.

Share this page: