ATC231016: 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 13 October 2023
Communications and Digital Technologies
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 13 October 2023
The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies (here referred to as “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 dated 10 May 2023 was received from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, informing the National Assembly of Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng's resignation as an ICASA Councillor.
The Minister requested 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.
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 11 South African official languages in two (2) national newspapers, two (2) regional newspapers and seven (7) community media newspapers. The Committee received 8 (eight) nominations. Qualifications verifications and State Security Agency (SSA) Personnel Suitability Checks (PSCs) were conducted on all candidates.
On 15 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. Dimitrios Martinis, Mr. Mothibi Ramusi and Mr. Nkosana Mbokane.
The names of the four (4) shortlisted candidates were published for public comments for two (2) weeks before the interviews were held on 5 October 2023.
On 13 October 2023, the Committee deliberated on the outcome of the interviews. It unanimously recommends to the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies that one (1) of the following two (2) candidates be appointed to fill the vacancy in the ICASA Council: Mr Mothibi Ramusi and Mr Dimitrios Martinis.
Report to be considered.