ATC210602: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the draft notice determining the remuneration of councillors of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), dated 2 June 2021

Communications and Digital Technologies

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the draft notice determining the remuneration of councillors of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), dated 2 June 2021

The Portfolio Committee on Communications, having considered the draft notice of the President’s determination of the salaries and allowances of members of various institutions, including Councillors of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa on 26 May 2021, reports as follows:

1. A letter, dated 13 April 2021, was received from the President of the Republic, requesting the Assembly to consider the draft notice of his determination of the salaries and allowances of members of various institutions, including Councillors of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa in terms of the Determination of Remuneration of Office-Bearers of Independent Constitutional Institutions Laws Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No. 22 of 2014).
2. On 22 April 2021, the matter was referred to the Committee for consideration and report.
3. Section 219(5) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, provides that national legislation must establish frameworks for determining the salaries, allowances and benefits of judges, the Public Protector, the Auditor-General, and members of any commission provided for in the Constitution, including the broadcasting authority referred to in section 192 of the Constitution.

4.   The Determination of Remuneration of Office-Bearers of Independent Constitutional Institutions Laws Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No. 22 of 2014), which came into operation on 1 April 2019, creates the necessary framework to determine the salaries of office-bearers of Chapter 9 institutions mentioned in the Constitution.

5.   Section 10 of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act, 2000 (Act No. 13 of 2000) dictates that: Salary, allowances and benefits of councillors of Council. — (1) The chairperson and other councillors are entitled to the salary, allowances and benefits —

(a) as determined by the President, from time to time, by notice in the Gazette, after taking into consideration the recommendations of the Independent Commission; and

(b) approved by the National Assembly in terms of subsection (5).

6.   Having taken into account the serious economic challenges that the country faces and the constrained fiscal environment, the President, proposed remuneration levels with effect 1 April 2020 of ICASA as follows:

 

• that a 0% salary freeze for all public office bearers for the financial year 2020/2021in terms of Notice No. 941 published in the Government Gazette No. 43666 of 28 August 2020 as repealed.

 

Recommendation

1. The Committee, having concurred with the President’s determination on the remuneration adjustment of ICASA Councilors that a salary freeze of 0% for the Chairperson and other Councillors be implemented, recommends that the National Assembly approve the draft notice determining the remuneration of Councillors of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).

 

[The Democratic Alliance reserved its right in terms of the recommendation in the Report.]

 

Report to be considered.