LAST MAN DOWN
Skowronski’s departure leaves all five GM positions vacant at a critical time for the authority. Icasa is tasked with giving effect to the Electronic Communications Act, new legislation that will have a broad impact on the sectors it regulates. The resignations come as serious questions are being asked about the management of the organisation under Paris Mashile, who chairs the authority’s powerful decision-making council (see Cover Story June 16).
Other GMs who have resigned include Bridget Mohlala (who headed finance), Peter Hlapolosa (telecom services), Jayshree Naidoo (legal) and Eric Nhlapo (broadcast services). Nhlapo had also been acting CEO since the suspension, pending an investigation into alleged irregularities, of CEO Jackie Manche Manche is understood to be negotiating her exit from the organisation.
A new post, that of human resources GM, must also be filled urgently.
Icasa spokesman Jubie Matlou says appointing a GM for HR is the authority’s first priority. The Electronic Communications Act will have a direct bearing on the way Icasa is structured, he says. Because the legislation deals with the convergence of technologies and industries, it might make sense for broadcasting and telecom policy management, for example, to be merged into one business unit. Similarly, licensing, which is split into two divisions, could be merged into one.
Matlou says the HR GM, when appointed, will be responsible for driving the restructuring of the organisation. They will have to take into account the demands imposed on the regulator by both the Electronic Communications Act and its twin legislation, the new Icasa Amendment Act, which President Thabo Mbeki signed into law last week.
The latter law requires the integration of the postal regulator into Icasa. It also makes provision for the appointment of two new councillors.
Five new councillors need to be appointed soon to fill the new council posts and to replace outgoing councillors Lumko Mtimde, Nadia Bulbulia and Mamodupi Mohlala, whose terms expire this week.
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