Dr Stephen Mncube has been appointed as the new chairman of the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) with immediate effect. Mncube succeeds Paris Mashile in the top position and will serve a five-year term to 2015.
This was confirmed early this morning by Paseka Maleka, manager of media and stakeholder liaisons at ICASA. Maleka noted that this was a Parliamentary process and the communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda took the final decision on the appointment, in consultation with Parliament.
The new chairman takes up his position as the regulator is in the midst of interconnect rate regulation hearings. The draft regulations call for a rate cut to 65c a minute from 1 July, to 50c in 2011, and to 40c from July 2012.
However, the proposal has been met with much objection during the hearings, which - in effect - will delay the commencement date for the rate cut. The 70-year-old Mncube will draw on his experience for the fight ahead.
Mncube previously held the positions of chairman of the National Information Technology Forum, chairman of Sentech and as the manager of the Development Information Business Unit at the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
The new chairman also holds a doctorate in philosophy, a master's degree in social science and a degree in science, which he obtained from the University of Syracuse, in the US.
Together with Mncube, Parliament and Nyanda earlier this month agreed on three other new councillors.
These include William Currie, who is with the Association of Progressive Communications; Joseph Lebooa, a business liaison manager with MTN; and Ntombela Ndhlovu, a legal advisor with MTN.
The new councillors will occupy council seats left open by Kobus van Rooyen, Robert Nkuna and Brenda Ntombela.
While Nkuna voluntarily indicated that he would not seek reappointment, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications decided not to nominate either Van Rooyen or Ntombela for second terms and gave no reasons for the decision.
Related story:
ICASA councillors selected
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