National Assembly Approves ICASA Council Recommendations to Strengthen South Africa’s ICT Sector
Parliament advances ICASA appointments, selecting diverse candidates to address critical telecom and broadcasting challenges.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Ms Khusela Sangoni Diko, has welcomed the adoption of the committee report by the National Assembly (NA), recommending six candidates to Minister Solly Malatsi to appoint four of them to the Council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).
As per the advice of the committee, the NA has recommended for appointment Ms Karabo Mohale, Dr Charles Lewis, Dr Joshua Tshifhiwa Maumela, Mr Andrew Dibi Matseke, Mr Melusi Mthethwa and Ms Cassandra Gabriel.
According to Ms Diko, the candidates recommended reflect the profound tapestry of our diversity and the depth of expertise in South Africa’s world class ICT industry.
These candidates are not only highly qualified, but we are confident that they will be able to grapple with and confront the vexing issues of the day.
– Ms Khusela Sangoni Diko, Chairperson, Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies
Introducing the report, Mr Diko outlined an outdated regulatory, policy and legislative environment, seismic disruptions in the broadcasting and telecoms environment occasioned by amongst others Over-The-Top services, next generation satellites and Artificial Intelligence as well as maintaining the dynamic link between the imperatives of transformation and competition in an industry demanding consolidation as the pressing challenges requiring the urgent attention of the Regulator. She has called on the incoming candidates, once appointed, to work within the existing Council and regulate without fear or favour in the public interest.
In August this year, Minister Malatsi wrote to the Speaker of the NA, Ms Thoko Didiza, informing her of the impending lapse of the term of office of four Councilors and requesting Parliament to initiate the recruitment process to fill the vacancies in line with section 5 of the ICASA Act 13 of 2000. The Speaker then referred the letter to the committee, which began the recruitment process henceforth.
Ms Diko has commended each and everyone of the nominated candidates and expressed her gratitude to the Members and Staff of the committee for working tirelessly to deliver on Parliament’s request for the expeditious execution of the task allocated to them.
