ATC170221: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the filling of two vacancies in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Council, dated 21 February 2016

Communications and Digital Technologies

 [The following report replaces the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications, which was published on page 3 of the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports dated 21 February 2017]

 

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the filling of two vacancies in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Council, dated 21 February 2017.
 

The Portfolio Committee on Communications (the Committee), having considered the request from the Minister of Communications to fill two vacancies in the ICASA Council, reports as follows:

 

Two letters were received from the Minister of Communications informing the National Assembly (NA) that she accepted the resignation of Dr Marcia Socikwa, a Councillor of ICASA, with effect from 31 January 2015; and that the term of office of the Chairperson of ICASA Council expired on 30 June 2015.

 

The Committee advertised the call for nominations of persons to serve in the ICASA Council. Thirty-five nominations were received.

 

On 6 September 2016, the Committee unanimously recommended that the following six candidates be shortlisted to be interviewed: Advocate Tebogo Stephen Kekana, Ms Palesa Kadi, Mr Yengwayo Kutta, Advocate Dimakatso Qocha, Ms Nomonde Gongxeka and Mr Sydney Linden Petzer.

 

A Subcommittee of the Committee conducted interviews in an open meeting at Parliament on Tuesday, 22 November 2016.

 

The Subcommittee recommended to the Committee that the following three names be considered in order to fill the two vacancies in the ICASA Council:  Advocate Dimakatso Qocha,  Ms Nomonde Gongxeka and Ms Palesa Kadi.

 

The Committee agreed with the Subcommittee’s recommendation and, in turn, recommends to the House that the three names be sent to the Minister in order to fill the two vacancies in the ICASA Council.  

 

The DA agreed with the names of Advocate Dimakatso Qocha and Ms Nomonde Gongxeka but abstained from choosing a third candidate.

 

Report to be considered.