Shortlisting of Candidates for Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Board, adoption of Committee Programme & discussion on Committee Training

Meeting report

Discussion on Committee Training
The Chairperson notified members of an invitation received from Alison Gillwald of the UCT Graduate School of Business for member training. This would comprise a four day workshop held at the UCT campus. A proposal for donor funding was also included in this document.
He asked members to consider their position in principle and whether the Committee should proceed by declaring their intention to attend the workshop to the National Assembly principles- House Chairperson and Speaker. This was important, as the procedures for obtaining outside funding needed to be followed.

Ms J Kilian (COPE) supported the proposal in principle.

Mr N van den Berg asked if the workshop would clash with the dates scheduled in the (committee) programme.

The Chairperson replied that there would be not be any clash, pointing out that the workshop was scheduled to take place when parliament is in recess. Parliament would rise on 23 September and the workshop was scheduled from 29 September to 2 October 2009.

Mr N van den Berg (DA) supported the proposal in principle.

The members agreed to the proposal.

The Chairperson clarified that the proposal was subject to the approval of the National Assembly principles. He informed the Committee that the Deputy Director-General for the Presidential National Commission (PNC) in the Department of Communications, Mr Mokwining Nhlapo, was killed in a car accident, along with his four children.

The meeting observed a moment of silence.

Adoption of Committee Programme
The Chairperson proposed that the Committee should receive a briefing on the Postbank Bill on the 25 August 2009 if the Office of the Auditor-General was not in a position to report to it on that date. He further noted that only other provisional item was the briefing on Digital Migration on 15 September 2009. Otherwise, he indicated that the programme would remain as it was.

Mr S Kholwane (ANC) cautioned that committee membership would be finalised shortly and he could foresee schedule clashes for the ANC members as most of them served on two committees. He referred to the difficulties experienced by Members who were obligated to attend Wednesday meetings and the implications for voting. Members may not be able to fulfil attendance and quorum requirements.

Ms L Mazibuko (DA) responded that the DA members did not have a problem with the schedule.

Ms Kilian replied that COPE members also had membership of more than one Committee. They were nevertheless also expected to attend meetings on Wednesday. She suggested that that the Committee should try to use Tuesdays as much as possible.

The Chairperson responded that the convention for the Committee was to meet on Tuesday’s but asked Members to prioritise Wednesday, 9 September 2009. He wanted to have the full Committee in attendance for the SABC Board interviews and asked members to make arrangements accordingly. In the same vein, Wednesday, 23 September 2009 had to be prioritised for the finalisation of the SABC Board.

Members adopted the Programme.

Ms P De Lillie (ID) proposed an addition to the programme. She had conducting research on the high interconnection rates in South Africa, specifically, high cellular phone rates. She asked for an opportunity to update the Committee on her findings and the process going forward. She had had meetings with the Competition Commission and ICASA and would require assistance from the Committee researchers as the work continued. She noted that South Africa lagged far behind much of the world on this matter and that the Portfolio Committee could play a role in bringing South African operators to the same level.

Mr van den Berg agreed that this was an important matter for inclusion on the Committee schedule in the provisional slot on 15 September 2009.

Ms M Magazi (ANC) agreed that this was a good proposal. She suggested that the ANC component of the Committee be allowed to consider the proposal and would present their decision on whether this should be included on the agenda at the next meeting of the Portfolio Committee.

Mr van den Berg responded he was also conducting research on the matter. He was not in favour of the issue being treated like a political game. The Committee's focus should be on looking after the interests of South Africans.

The Chairperson noted that Ms De Lille had provided a pack of documents, containing all the relevant information. These documents would be circulated to Members and the Committee could take a final decision on the matter at the meeting on 18 August 2009.

Shortlisting of Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Board candidates (86 CVs)
Mr Kholwane acknowledged the important role performed by ICASA in regulating the communications environment and allowing operators to function. There was nevertheless an ongoing debate on the need to regulate the communications environment, threatening ICASA. It was necessary for the Committee to engage on this debate.
Access and affordability were equally important aspects to the role of ICASA in providing even the poorest of South Africans with telecommunications services. The Committee also had to bear their oversight role on mind when deliberating on the candidates for the ICASA Board.

The initial proposal had been for the shortlist to consist of 5 candidates. However, this had been difficult to adhere to and the ANC had proposed that it be increased to 8 names to reflect a more diverse group of candidates.

Members agreed to a shortlist of 8 candidates.

The Chairperson reported that no. 63 had withdrawn his nomination.

Mr van den Berg stated that he had focussed on the technical skills of candidates. Other qualities that were uppermost in considering candidates were leadership skills and the ability to plan in advance. There had been agreement between the DA members on 5 candidates: nos. 45, 26, 22, 13 and 5.

Ms Kilian reported that the criteria she had used to arrive at her choices for the shortlisted candidates were: legal qualifications as this was an important competency for Board member and suitable exposure to the communications environment. She had decided on nos. 5, 7, 26, 28, 31, 32 and 39.

Mr van den Berg replied that DA also supported no.7.

Mr Kholwane nominated no. 5, 7, 22, 38, 39, 40 and 74.

The Chairperson summarised that members had generally agreed on no. 5, 7, 22, 38, 39 and 26, although not unanimously - six candidates in total.

Mr Kholwane replied that the ANC agreed to these six candidates and proposed the inclusion of no. 40 and 74. Interestingly, no. 40 was the existing member of the ICASA Board in contention.

Mr van den Berg asked the Committee to reconsider no.45, as the candidate had impressive technical skills. He also motivated for no.13, noting that the candidate was a member of the Competition Commission and this was a useful background, considering the competitive nature of the communications environment.

The Chairperson stated that in addition to the six candidates agreed upon, no. 13, 40, 45 and 74 were proposed for the Committee's consideration.

The Committee agreed to include no.74.

Ms Kilian suggested the Committee agree on a shortlist including the eight candidates plus the existing ICASA member - no.40. She felt that it was fair to invite this candidate to the interviews.

Members agreed to this proposal and to the inclusion of no.45. The shortlist was consequently increased to nine candidates.

The Chairperson reported the final list as consisting of no. 5, 7, 22, 26, 38, 39, 40, 45, and 74.

5: Josephine Mabotja
7: David Vannucci
22: Dillo Lehlokoe
26: Zandile Mxaku
38: Edmund Baloyi
39: Luthando Mkumatela
40: Mthobeli Zokwe
45: William Stucke
74: Khulile Bogwana

The Committee passed the motion to publish this shortlist in newspapers.

The meeting was adjourned.