Communications regulator the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has welcomed Zolani Kgosietsile Matthews as its sixth councillor, to complete the nine-member council.
Matthews’s swearing-in follows communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams’s U-turn to appoint a sixth member of the ICASA council, following a contentious appointment process.
He now joins Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng (chairperson of the council), Peter Zimri, Luthando Mkumathela, Yolisa Kedama, Dr Charles Lewis, Palesa Kadi, Thembeka Semane and Dimakatso Qocha.
ICASA’s five other new councillors took their oath of office last month, after they were appointed by notice in the Government Gazette.
In a statement, the telecoms regulator says Matthews was sworn in yesterday, taking over the role for the next four years.
“We indeed welcome the appointment of councillor Matthews into ICASA. It is a great moment for us to finally have a full complement of council, something that we greatly welcome. We really look forward to working together, to learn a lot from the wealth of experience brought about by all council members,” says Modimoeng.
According to the chairperson, the council is a platform where everyone learns from the other’s expertise and knowledge, and a platform of rigorous and robust debate where intellectual stamina is brought to the fore.
“We engage in all these debates with only one goal in mind, and that is to regulate in the public interest.”
ICASA defines its nine-member council as its highest decision-making body. It consists of eight members and the chairperson. Those appointed to serve on the council are selected on the principles of transparency, openness and accountability, commitment to fairness and freedom of expression.
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