ATC230920: Progress report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies on the filling of a vacancy in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Council, dated 15 September 2023
Communications and Digital Technologies
Progress report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies on the filling of a vacancy in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Council, dated 15 September 2023
The Portfolio Committee on Communications (the Committee), having considered the request from the Minster of Communications and Digital Technologies to fill a vacancy in the ICASA Council, reports as follows:
A letter was received from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, informing the National Assembly of the resignation of Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng as a Councilor of ICASA.
The Minister requested the Speaker of the National Assembly to initiate the process of filling the vacancy in terms of section 5(1) of the ICASA Act, that arose because of the resignation of Dr Modimoeng.
The Committee considered the letter from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies and resolved that the Secretariat should proceed with the process of publishing an advertisement in the media calling for the nomination of a person to fill the vacancy in the ICASA Council.
The advertisement was published in all eleven South African official languages in two national newspapers, two regional newspapers and seven community media newspapers. The Committee received 8 (eight) nominations. Qualifications verifications and SSA Personnel Suitability Checks were conducted on all candidates.
On 14 September 2023, the Committee met to consider the criteria and skills required to fill the vacancy and unanimously resolved that the following 4 (four) candidates be shortlisted for interviews: Prof Surendra Thakur, Mr Demitros Martinis, Mr Mothibi Ramusi and Mr Nkosana Mbokane.
The Democratic Alliance supported the shortlisted candidates but indicated that the names will be tabled to the Democratic Alliance (DA) Caucus and should there be any issues of concern, such will be raised during the public participation period.
The names of the four (4) shortlisted candidates will be published for public comments for a period of two weeks, before the Committee conduct interviews.
Report to be noted.