The Bill that will allow the merger of the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SATRA) and the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has passed the communications portfolio committee on its way to becoming law.
The regulators are not necessarily happy with the document as it stands, but it seems the only thing to be settled is the name of the new organisation.
The new body was named the South African Communications Regulatory Authority in draft documentation. But the portfolio committee is leaning towards Independent Communications Authority of SA.
The Bill's preamble states that the merger is needed because of the rapid convergence in the fields of broadcasting and telecommunications. Provision is made for the new authority to assume all the functions of its two predecessors, but the number of councillors is set between five and seven, not the nine the IBA requested in its submission to the committee.
SATRA and IBA councillors will remain in office until immediately before the first meeting of the new council. New councillors are to be chosen by the president with help from the communications portfolio committee, but there is no indication that previous councillors will receive precedence.
All employees appointed to either regulator will be automatically transferred to the new body, and all pending matters will be resolved by the new organisation. Former rulings and directives will also be enforced by the new entity.
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