Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Council: recommendations

SUMMARY
The following seven candidates were recommended to be appointed as councillors: Ms Yasmin Carrim, Mr Willie Currie, Ms Julia Hope, Mr Mandla Langa, Ms Libby Loyd, Mr Langa Ncetezo, and Mr Neel Smuts.

MINUTES
Mr Kekana thanked all the previous councillors from IBA and SATRA. He informed the committee that they are now realising the dream of a joint communication body which was initiated at Kempton Park. He said that ICASA has to be impartial, and this committee has a duty to monitor the council, to ensure it fulfills its mandate. Mr Kekana informed the committee that ICASA would be facing several challenges, including introducing competition for Telkom, restructuring the SABC, and resolving the e-commerce debate.

Seventy-two nominations had been received for the appointment to the Council of the Independent Communications Authority South Africa. Twenty-five candidates were interviewed.

DiscussionThe chairperson requested each political party to nominate seven candidates, and cautioned them to do it in a dignified manner.

Mr Abram (UDM) said that when nominating the following candidates, the UDM was guided by the legislation for this authority. Due to past experiences of fraudulent misrepresentation within the Public Service, Mr Abram requested security and clearances checks be completed on the candidates, before recommending them to the President. He emphasised that when people are appointed to positions of trust, it is imperative to verify the history of the candidates. He informed the committee that the following candidates clearly displayed the required combination of business acumen, social responsibility and skills:

UDM Nominations: Ms Y Carrim, Mr W Currie, Ms F Mnguni-Radebe, Mr M Langa, Ms L Lloyd, Mr L Ncetezo, and Mr N Smuts.

ANC nominations: Ms Y Carrim, Mr W Currie, Ms J Hope, Mr M Langa, Ms L Lloyd, Ms F Mnguni-Radebe, Mr L Ncetezo, and Mr N Smuts.

NNP nominations: Ms Y Carrim, Mr W Currie, Ms J Hope, Mr M Langa, Ms L Lloyd, Mr K Herold, and Mr N Smuts.

DP nominations: Ms Y Carrim, Mr W Currie, Ms A Gillwald, Mr M Langa, Mr N Maepa, Mr K Herold, and Mr N Smuts.

IFP nominations: Ms Y Carrim, Mr W Currie, Ms F Mnguni-Radebe, Mr L Ncetezo, Ms J Hope, Ms L Lloyd, and Mr N Smuts.

The Chairperson urged the committee to ensure that there is adequate representation, and that the candidates have the expertise to deliver adequate service to the public. ICASA would be a industry-specific regulator and will report regularly to this committee. They had to guard against a repeat of the IBA/ SATRA saga.

After lengthy discussion, debate and compromise, the Committee recommended that the following persons be recommended as councillors of ICASA: the current chairperson of the IBA, Mr Mandla Langa, and existing councillors, Libby Lloyd of the IBA and William Currie of SATRA, as well as new entrants, Ms Y Carrim, Ms J Hope, Mr L Ncetezo, and Mr N Smuts.

The Chairperson asked the committee for guidance with regard to security checks on candidates. Ms Vos (IFP) said that the qualifications and the references have to be verified. Ms Smuts (DP) objected to security checks, saying this would be inappropriate. Mr Makunyane (ANC) suggested that the Department of Public Service be given the responsibility to conduct the relevant security checks because it would be an independent official body. Mr Kekana said that this point would be noted in the report.

As there were no further objections, the chairperson read the report of recommendation.