The four Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) councillors that were summarily "dismissed" by communications minister Faith Muthambi last year have yet to be replaced, with the multi-step appointment process yet to start.
It has been almost four months since controversy erupted over what was seen as Muthambi's premature discharge of former councillors William Currie, Joseph Lebooa, Miki Ndhlovu and William Stucke. The powers that be have been criticised for dragging their feet on filling vacant councillor positions.
Muthambi said last year the departure of the four councillors would in no way affect the smooth functioning and decision-making of the regulator, adding the council quorum was based on the majority of the councillors in office at a given time. With the said councillors' exit, ICASA's council has five members for the time being.
The process of appointing new councillors to their four-year seats starts with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications (PPCC) advertising the posts, and then follows a nomination and vetting process and, finally, approval by the National Assembly. The whole process can take anything from a few weeks, to two months.
Other plans
Last week, PPCC chairman Joyce Moloi-Moropa told ITWeb the advert for ICASA vacancies would be placed "soon", but did not comment further.
When the New Year had come and gone with no sign of intention to replace the outgoing councillors, concerns were raised that Muthambi had plans to permanently reduce ICASA's council.
Shadow minister of communications for the Democratic Alliance, Gavin Davis, says a smaller council would mean less scope for dissenting views. "It [would therefore be] easier for [Muthambi] to 'manage'. Having a smaller council is not necessarily a problem, but her motives for wanting a smaller council are."
Davis says the issue at hand is not so much the size of the council, but whether downsizing will happen at the expense of independent voices with a real handle on the sector. "I suspect it will."
Mum DOC
According to ICASA, the appointment of councillors to ICASA is the sole responsibility of the minister, although it requires National Assembly approval. However, Muthambi's spokesperson, Ayanda Hollow, directed ITWeb's queries to the PPCC, saying the appointment of councillors is a parliamentary process.
Late last year, it emerged Muthambi intended "re-orienting the structural configuration of ICASA's council".
In an announcements, tablings and committee reports document dated 23 September, National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete said she received a letter from Muthambi on 4 August.
In the letter, Muthambi informs the National Assembly that the terms of office of the said ICASA councillors would all expire by the end of October. The speaker indicates Muthambi also notified the assembly "that she intends re-orienting the structural configuration of the council of ICASA".
The DOC has not responded to numerous follow-up queries submitted around this last week.
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