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Controversial names make ICASA short list

Bonnie Tubbs
By Bonnie Tubbs
Johannesburg, 11 May 2015
The names that have made the cut to potentially fill ICASA's council represent a mixed bag.
The names that have made the cut to potentially fill ICASA's council represent a mixed bag.

While a timeframe is yet to be established as to when the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) will again see a complete board, 12 names have made the cut and will be interviewed in two weeks' time for the position of councillor.

Among the 12 names, at least two have a history with the regulator and are regarded as well-placed to take a seat, while two are preceded by a more notorious reputation.

The candidates are Diratsagae Maoke, Keabetswe Modimoeng, Lance Rothschild, Lumko Mtimde, Paris Mashile, Peter Hlapolosa, Peter Zimri, Sello Molefe, Thami Ntenteni, Yengwayo Kutta, Botlenyana Mokhele and Dimakatso Qocha.

Paris Mashile and Peter Zimri are both industry veterans who have a history with the regulator, while Lumko Mtimde and Thami Ntenteni have in the past been subjects of scandal and controversy.

According to the ICASA Act, those appointed to the regulator's council must be individuals who:
* Are committed to fairness, freedom of expression, openness and accountability on the part of those entrusted with the governance of a public service.
* Are representative of a broad cross-section of the population of SA.
* Possess suitable qualifications, expertise and experience in the fields of (among others) broadcasting, electronic communications and postal policy or operations, public policy development, electronic engineering, law, IT, content in any form, consumer protection, education, economics, finance or any other relevant expertise or qualifications.

Controversial candidates

Former South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board member Mtimde recently made news when he was barred from being in the running to chair the state broadcaster's board, after his CV was not lodged with the entity in time.

Although he was regarded as a prime candidate up to that stage, Mtimde did not appeal the disqualification.

Another controversial figure, Ntenteni made headlines in 2003 when, as SABC Africa executive editor, he was embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal. The broadcasting executive was accused of demanding sexual favours from a prospective employee in exchange for the position of news producer a year before.

Ntenteni had been in the news for all the wrong reasons prior to that, with charges of both culpable homicide and drunk driving preceding the 2003 scandal.

Familiar faces

Familiar faces to ICASA, should they make the grade to sit on the council, would be former ICASA board chairman Mashile and frequency spectrum specialist Zimri, who was senior manager for spectrum at the authority between 2002 and 2004.

Subsequent to his two-year tenure at ICASA, Zimri served as director at the then Department of Communications for three years.

Owner of Ellipsis Regulatory Solutions, Dominic Cull, says both men would bring value to the board if appointed. "Zimri [is a] highly capable industry veteran, while former chairperson Mashile would be an interesting choice and would bring experience, which I think is going to be needed given the large number of new councillors to be appointed."

ICASA's council has been four members short since October - by which time communications minister Faith Muthambi had ushered out William Currie, Joseph Lebooa, William Stucke and Ntombizodwa Ndhlovu - while another councillor, Marcia Socikwa, resigned in January. Incumbent ICASA chairperson Stephen Mncube's five-year tenure comes to an end next month.

According to a source close to the matter, all four of the outgoing ICASA councillors who left last year reapplied for the positions, but none were selected.

Keabetswe Modimoeng has also been short-listed to fill one of three vacancies open on the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) board, as has Yengwayo Kutta.

Lance Rothschild, meanwhile, is known in the PR, communications and broadcasting industry. He is currently on the board of Botswana's capital city Gaborone's radio station Yarona FM and was station manager of SA's 5FM from December 1986 to April 1994.

Rothschild also has a history with MNet (GM for premium-pay programming, pre-DStv days) and - over the past six years - has been CEO of the MTN Radio Awards.