The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee recently shortlisted nine candidates for the vacant Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) councilor position, selected from 86 CVs which were received. The candidates included Josephine Mabotja, David Vannucci, Dillo Lehlokoe, Zandile Mxaku, Edmund Baloyi, Luthando Mkumatela, Mthobeli Zokwe, William Stucke and Khulile Bogwana.<\/p>\n
One candidate, William Stucke, stood out because of his strong technical knowledge and his standing in the local telecoms arena. The ICASA Council is not known for its strong technical skills, and Stucke’s knowledge would definitely increase the capacity of the regulator to address certain complicated technical matters at council level.<\/p>\n
A few weeks ago two candidates were short-listed for the new councilor position, Stucke, treasurer for the Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) and Khulile Boqwana, a senior manager for regulation at Telkom Media. Boqwana was seen as the first choice for the position, partly because of Stucke’s affiliation with ISPA and his business interests in the form of a small ISP.<\/p>\n
In a surprise move William Stucke is likely to be named as the new ICASA councilor. No official announcement has been made yet, but ‘word on the street’ is that Stucke is set to be named the latest addition to the ICASA council.<\/p>\n
Stucke is a telecoms and Internet veteran, and has held numerous management positions in the local and African Internet space. He is a founding member of ISOC-ZA, and was Chairman of the organization for three years.<\/p>\n
Stucke is currently a member of the Management Committee of ISPA (SA) and Treasurer. He chairs two of the ISPA Working Groups and participates in most of the others. He is also Chairman of AfrISPA, an organisation that he helped form. He further helped to form Namespace ZA and is currently a member of zaDNA.<\/p>\n
Stucke is well known for his outspoken nature and strong views on telecoms reform in South Africa, and may be exactly what the ICASA Council needs to better regulate the local telecommunications market.<\/p>\n