Icasa man takes ‘revolving door’ to licensee

[rpm]

Lloyd Gedye, Mail & Guardian, July 8 2005 (looks like print only)

"In a move that could soon be outlawed, a senior Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) official has joined a private company shortly after its license was amended, allowing it to become a major player in the broadband industry.

Former Icasa counsillor Mbulelo Ncetezo, whose term at Icasa ended in June last year, joined Wireless Business Solutions (WBS) in August as head of legal and regulatory affairs. WBS’s terms of license were amended by Icasa on April 30 2004.

The upgrade license turns WBS, previously a low bandwidth supplier used by the national Lottery, into a fully-fledged broadband competitor to Telkom and Sentech."

 

[craigsa]

Oh my god , please tell me this is a joke. Does the corruption never end ?

 

[Gladiator]

it ends when ppl goto jail... *cough* shaik *cough*

 

[craigsa]

And Zuma *cough* yeah right *cough*

 

[w1z4rd]

i think a consumer based organisation/party with power should be created. If they dont give the power, then we strike or something.

Until south africans get off their asses, they must expect to take it.

 

[alchamy]

Always had a funny feeling bout WBS getting a license, always thought it had something to do with Ivy being on the SABC board some time back since WBS resides in Radio Tower.

 

[Karnaugh]

big up to WBS I guess, they played their cards have to give them that.

 

[MaD]

Well even if its a bad thing to do it was to the advantage to SA internet users although perhaps many iburst subscribers may disagree

 

[antowan]

Well, if the laws change to disallow this in future, GREAT!

There are many examples of this happening and it will take some really tough and morally upstanding people to level the playing field in South Africa. The biggest problems IMO standing in the way of a truly competative telecoms market are the following:

a) AA/BEE requierements for licensing which is racist and amounts to social engineering, the evils of which will be aparent to generations to come...
b) Lack of freedom to enter the market. The legilsative processes are too combersome and restrictive. True competion can only come with the open and free entry by any competitor. The SNO will not help ourt situation unless lesgislation is ballanced with some more legislation banning cooperation on any level.

 

[craigsa]

Ant , the people here are gonna have a cow about your point "A" - i agree with you 100%

 

[antowan]

It has to be understood that I am for development, but it was wrong in the past to discriminate based on race and it is no less so today.

Development should be in the form of better schools for all, better facilities and more resources to the disadvantaged communities no matter where they are.

Our first New South Africa matriculants will be graduating in 2007. Those kids are the ones that should have been given a helping hand through better education opportunities and if need be food aid. But this should be granted to black and white.

BTW, point A is my personal oppinion and not necessarily the official point of view MyADSL.

 

[craigsa]

No but your point is absolutely correct - it is racism !! anyone who disagrees must seriously go and relook at the facts. I dont wanna get into an argument (its the weekend) but you are 10000% correct.

 

[MaD]

Ag enough of this im gonna trot over to the beach and have a few drinks.. come join

 

[Darth Garth]

AA/BEE requierements for licensing which is racist and amounts to social engineering, the evils of which will be aparent to generations to come.

Yes it most definitely discriminates but it is there to rebalance the injustices of the past.

 

[antowan]

The problem is that there is no objective means to measure the extent of the injustices of the past tibby.dude

Now we have a very strict measured AA/BEE, which is having an impact on kids and young people who were either too young to vote during Apartheid or born after 1994. It is not fair on them and it is not fair on the whole of South Africa. You cannot right a wrong with another wrong.

tibby.dude I emplore you to give me the exact value or extent of the injustice of the past. Then give me an idea of EXACTLY when that injustice will be overcome according to you... After you did that, point out those people that should pay that penalty. Who are they? Would that include the white folks that were poor and living underneath the breadline before 1994? Would that be fair?

If you can do the above, you can justify AA/BEE

 

[Darth Garth]

Now we have a very strict measured AA/BEE, which is having an impact on kids and young people who were either too young to vote during Apartheid or born after 1994. It is not fair on them and it is not fair on the whole of South Africa. You cannot right a wrong with another wrong.

Nobody said it was fair but how do you correct such a skewed situation which is wrong ???.

So you must take from one and give to another until there is a balance.

Timespan ... I really have no idea ... probably my generation only.

 

[reech]

Nobody said it was fair but how do you correct such a skewed situation which is wrong ???.

So you must take from one and give to another until there is a balance.

Timespan ... I really have no idea ... probably my generation only.

dunno about this .... ...yes the previous system was incredibly unjust, but the present system is simply repeating those those mistakes; as I see it the only way out for the the masses is an excellent (free) education which to a large extent has not been provided -despite rising spending. Simply 'transferring' wealth is not going to solve anything as I think we've found out.

 

[craigsa]

In short my friends - History will repeat itself !!
But back to the thread topic : The problem is that this appointment of this person is that it casts a shadow of doubt over her involvment in WBS during time at ICASA.