DA calls for ICASA review

By Paul Vecchiatto, ITWeb Cape Town correspondent

Cape Town, 30 Jan 2007

Parliament is considering a Democratic Alliance (DA) proposal that the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) be called to account for the resignation of its former CEO Jackie Manche and others.

The proposal was tabled by the DA's communications spokesperson Dene Smuts before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, at the request of its acting chairman Godfrey Oliphant, of the African National Congress (ANC).

Smuts also proposed the committee recommend to ICASA that it begin to play its own oversight role, as written in the Constitution, to ensure broadcasters are representing the fairness and diversity of views. This was prompted by today's newspaper reports that South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) journalist John Perlman had resigned due to the ongoing "blacklisting" saga.

Overview roles

Both the SABC and ICASA have appeared before the committee to state their cases on the relevant topics. However, as the members of Parliament agreed, the committee has not yet considered these presentations properly and it is time to do so.

Committee member Kgotso Khumalo (ANC) said: "We have not sat down as a committee to consider these reports. While we may have looked into this on a party basis, we have not yet formulated a committee response."

Another member, Suzanne Vos, of the Inkatha Freedom Party, also proposed that communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri's budget speech of 25 May be examined and the minister be called to appear before the committee to see what had been achieved.

Calling for documentation

In terms of the DA's proposal on the ICASA resignations, the party wants the authority to account for the length of the suspension and the details leading to Manche's resignation. It wants all the documentation to be tabled before the committee, including the letter of resignation and council minutes on the issue.

The DA also asked for Manche to appear before the committee in a closed session, if necessary. It also wants full disclosure of all the exit reports of senior people who have left ICASA over the past year.

Last year, ICASA chairman Paris Mashile delivered to the committee an analysis of the exit reports. However, he was heavily criticised by committee members because they had requested the exit reports themselves.

The DA also wants a review of ICASA's progress and readiness to implement the Electronic Communications Act.