ATC171031: Final report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the filling of three vacancies in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Council, dated 31 October 2017

Communications and Digital Technologies

Final report of the Portfolio Committee on Communications on the filling of three vacancies in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Council, dated 31 October 2017

 

The Portfolio Committee on Communications (the Committee), having considered the request from the Minister of Communications to fill two vacancies in the ICASA Council and a request by the Deputy Speaker to fill a vacancy that arose as a result of Mr Rubben Mohlaloga’s term expiring on 30 June 2017, reports as follows:

 

A letter was received from the Minister of Communications informing the National Assembly that the terms of office of Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi and Ms Katharina Pillay expired on 31 January 2017; and requesting the National Assembly to commence with the process of filling the vacancies.

 

Another letter was received from the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, dated 28 June 2017, advising the Committee of the upcoming vacancy of Mr Rubben Mohlaloga and requesting that this vacancy be filled together with the other two vacancies as it would be the most cost effective and time efficient manner to handle the appointment process.

 

The Committee advertised the call for nominations of persons to serve in the ICASA Council and received 117 submissions.

 

On 25 August 2017, the Committee met and unanimously recommended that the following 15 candidates be shortlisted to be interviewed: Adv Cawekazi Mahlathi; Ms Natalie-Ann      

Delport; Dr Mashilo       Boloka  ; Mrs Nomonde Gongxeka-Seopa; Mr Phosa      Mashangoane; Mr Peter Hlapolosa; Mr Rubben Mohlaloga; Mr Thabo Makhakhe; Prof Shiela Onketse Mmusi; Ms Thembeka Semane; Ms Lulama            Mokhobo; Mr Ashraf          Patel; Mr Andrew Pheto; Mr Themba Phiri; and Ms Kate Skinner.

 

The names of the 15 shortlisted candidates were published on the parliamentary website for a period of 5 working days in order to allow the public to submit comments thereon. The screening of all candidates was conducted through the State Security Agency (SSA) and the verification of qualifications was conducted through Parliament’s Human Resources Unit.

 

The candidates were interviewed on 12 October 2017, with the exception of Prof Onketse Mmusi and Mr Themba Phiri who withdrew from the process.

 

On 31 October 2017, the Committee deliberated on the interviewed candidates and recommends to the National Assembly that three of the following five candidates be recommended for appointment to the ICASA Council: Mrs Nomonde Gongxeka-Seopa; Mr Rubben Mohlaloga; Ms Kate Skinner; Ms Thembeka Semane; and Ms Lulama Mokhobo.

 

Report to be considered.