Four Icasa councillors out: regulator responds
Between September and October 2014, the terms of office of four Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) Councillors come to an end, Icasa chairperson Stephen Mncube said in a statement on Wednesday, 15 October 2014.
“Which is no surprise to the Icasa Council and was taken into account during its planning at the beginning of the financial year,” Mncube said.
In planning for the end of terms of councillors, Icasa said all council activities were headed by a councillor whose term was not to end during the current financial year, and supported by outgoing councillors.
Mncube said that they are confident they have put in place sufficient measures to accommodate the departure of the four councillors.
“This does not, however, take away from the invaluable contributions of outgoing Councillors Currie, Lebooa, Ndhlovu, and Stucke,” Mncube said.
In its statement, Icasa said that the chairperson and remaining councillors would like to thank the outgoing councillors for their contribution and wish them well in their future ventures.
On Tuesday, 14 October 2014, media reports quoted DA Shadow Minister of Communications Marian Shinn and telecommunications lawyer Kerron Edmunson who speculated that the size of the Icasa council might be reduced to make it easier to push through politically motivated decisions.
Icasa dismissed the comments and articles as “mischievous” for creating the impression that the Icasa council and its activities would be hindered.
“The Icasa Act, as amended provides for the continued and legitimate decision-making by the Council of Icasa, even in instances where there are fewer Councillors in office at any given time, as has been the case previously,” Mncube said.
“There has, in the past, been periods when there was less than the full complement of Councillors in office and this did not impede decision-making or bring into question the legitimacy of decisions,” he added.
Icasa said that it does not appoint councillors nor can it decide on the end date for councillors. Appointments are done through the Minister after a Parliamentary process and the term of office for councillors is four years.
“The Minister, last week requested Councillors whose terms of office are ending to complete their handover and wrap-up their activities a month after the end of their terms of office,” Icasa said.
More government news
Cell C will fight new call termination rates: CEO
New call termination rates finalised
Don’t fall for Icasa’s changing LLU story
Icasa was not deceived about TV porn: ODM
Loading ...