Mandla Langa (ICASA) interview

ICASA wants the same as the rest of us but they've been unable to fulfil their duties cos Ivy has to ratify everything.. not a good thing by any means.
 
I have to love the answers, Talk about looking over your shoulder at each word. Not that I blame the chairman, I am sure Ivy had parked her guillotine outside the interview office
 
Man I absolutely agree, that oke was ducking and diving and dodging almost everything.
 
Man I absolutely agree, that oke was ducking and diving and dodging almost everything.
Click to expand...
You swear he was a politician.

I suppose being paid for by the state amounts to the same thing.
 
Leaving the government out of it, who will have the final say on competition in the sector - you or the Competition Commission?

I think the rules are quite clear in terms of our relationship with the Competition Commission.

They seem quite confused to me, looking at the draft Convergence Bill.

Yes, it's confused at the present moment once you bring in the convergence legislation. But in terms of the existing legislation we've got clear jurisdictions.
Click to expand...

ok theres something fundimently wrong with this statement...im sure ;>
 
Why you folks fail to see the bigger picture is really beyond me - there are very definitely bigger things at play here, than just the question of telecomms liberalisation and answering questions posed by a journo. Clearly, Langa is well aware of same, and is treading carefully. Conspiracy theorists, you have the floor...
 
Bigger picture? Money, control, ineptitude, apathy, greed, vested interests of "concerned" parties, bribes, international and local? If thats the bigger picture then they can just stick it. I don't care for their problems, except when their problem becomes mine. To try confuse the issue with smoke screens like transformation, dissolution of power of independent bodies and lip-service to more "important issues" such as education and economy is a reality is South Africa and Africa as a whole, all just to protect their own pockets is pathetic and damn stupid.

Point remains, he was ducking and diving in his answers, which points out clearly that he has failed in his role as the public regulator. Perhaps he avoided the guillotine from Ivy and Co. but in a nice little feudal society such as 16th Japan he should go forth and cut his own belly open. :)
 
That interview was completely pointless. Not a single straight answer. I know he's watching his back, but its a sad state of affairs when a supposedly "independant" body chairman has to watch his P's & Q's in case he upsets the government.
 
Strobemeister said:
That interview was completely pointless. Not a single straight answer. I know he's watching his back, but its a sad state of affairs when a supposedly "independant" body chairman has to watch his P's & Q's in case he upsets the government.
Click to expand...
fair comment - not totally pointless as it gives us insight into what is really going on....if i read between the lines then a person that i appreciate for his views and intelligence and who has a great deal of experience in the arena is basically extending the middle finger in the direction of the DoC. He is already on record as stating that ICASA is not independent - imho they thought they were independent and that they were finally doing something worthwhile after the liberalisation announcement but the ministerial about face has shown them where control really lies. very little mr langa can do about that and what is he going to achieve by having a go at the minister.....very very little except some personal satisfaction and the undying affection of myadsl members
 
Agreed, but its still a sad state of affairs.
I think the independence of icasa should be a real focus on this forum.
 
Strobemeister said:
Agreed, but its still a sad state of affairs.
I think the independence of icasa should be a real focus on this forum.
Click to expand...
yip it is a crucial point - has been raised on the forum a couple of times. the next big issue in this regard is the Convergence Bill which will set out the relationship between the DoC and ICASA for the foreseeable future...at the momment there are huge concerns particularly re the capacity and financial independence and the ability of ICASA to be self-funding through licence revenue. I am aware that there are a number of written submissions to the portfolio committee on communications in this regard and that there are some extremely capable folk who will be making oral submissions after May 17 trying to emphasise the need for a strong and independent regulator. it has to be accepted that the minister will have a role to play but she has a history of simply overruling the regulator in a highly embarrasing fashion

this is not helped by all the senior staff disappearing into the private sector

Pan - at the moment there is a memorandum of understanding between ICASA and the Competition Commission which sets out who will deal with what; unfortunately the convergence bill seems intent on confusing this. I know that the competition commission made representations with regard to this issue when the first draft of the Convergence Bill came out in december 2003 basically stating that the Bill would cause confusion which could be taken advantage of by established, market-dominant players. This was not taken into account and nothing was changed re competition jurisdiction in the second draft. I am confident that this will be sorted out before the convergence bill becomes the convergence act
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X