ICASA councillors approved

By Paul Vecchiatto, ITWeb Cape Town correspondent

Johannesburg, 21 Sep 2006

Politicians approved communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri`s preferences for the five ICASA councillor positions today.

Members of the Portfolio Committee on Communications had to assemble today for a hasty meeting to debate the five choices presented to them by Matsepe-Casaburri after they had sent her their eight candidates almost two weeks ago.

"It is totally unacceptable that, as parliament, we are supposed to apply our minds properly to this matter in such short a time and in such haste," Randy Pieterse of the African National Congress (ANC) said.

Adding to the sense of urgency is that parliament is to go into recess for two weeks from tomorrow. If the committee did not approve the list today, the whole process would have carried on late into October.

Politicians from the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkhata Freedom Party (IFP), agreed with him. However, the parties resolved to pass the list due to the urgency of getting the communications regulator to its full complement of nine councillors as soon as possible.

Concerns

Kgotso Kuhmalo (ANC) expressed concerns about the demographic make up of the new council, especially the gender issue as now there were far fewer women than men.

Dene Smuts (DA) said the final choice "was more pleasing than expected". She said her party could find no fault with the names submitted by the minister in terms of the law.

"The person we were most worried about is (sitting ICASA councillor) Mamodupi Mohlala, who was also acting as a legal representative for the Black IT Forum. However, she has given an undertaking this would not happen again as IT does fall under the Electronic Communications Act," Smuts said.

Suzanne Vos (IFP) registered her party`s objection to the inclusion of Brenda Ntombela, who is a director within the Department of Communications.

The five new councillors are Kobus van Rooyen, Andrew Barendse, Robert Nkuna, Brenda Ntombela and Mamodupi Mohlala.

"On principle we cannot endorse a candidate with such close ties to the department. Furthermore, while she has fantastic nursing and healthcare credentials, she only has four years` experience in this sector," Vos said.

Nominees who were omitted were Marcia Socikwa, Mashile Matlala, and Kedibone Annah Serero-Chiloane.