Interviews in Parliament to fill an Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) council seat, which is to become vacant in June, proved underwhelming yesterday.
Candidates arrived 90 minutes late and politicians appeared uncertain of the law.
Six candidates were originally picked by Parliament's communications committee, in order for it to select two for communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda to decide who would fill the position that becomes vacant when ICASA chairman Paris Mashile leaves. The selected candidate would not necessary become chairman of the communications regulator.
At the start of the meeting, committee chairman Ismail Vadi announced that well-known academic and regulatory specialist Alison Gillwald had withdrawn her candidacy.
Vadi also stated the candidate who was supposed to appear first - Norman Baloyi - had missed his previous evening flight from Limpopo. It then appeared he delayed the trip of the other four candidates from Cape Town airport, due to taking a bathroom break.
Outside advice
While the MPs waited, they held an informal discussion about section six of the ICASA Amendment Act, which lists a series of disqualifications for prospective ICASA candidates. This discussion focused on the conditions that a candidate, or a member of the candidate's family, may not hold interests in the sector, or had to dispose of these interests before being appointed.
“The law is very unambiguous about this. The candidate may not hold any interests, although part two of that section seems to have foreseen this problem,” said ANC MP Johnny de Lange.
The reason for the discussion was that ICASA councillor William Stucke is still in the throes of disposing of his interests in an Internet service provider. He cannot take part in any of the regulator's licensing hearings until he has done so.
The committee resolved to ask for external advice on the legality of Stucke's appointment and for an opinion on the implications of the section. It also agreed that Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille and De Lange would collaborate to draw up a form that listed all the requirements and disqualifications candidates had to declare.
“It is such a draconian provision that, if applied to MPs, half of Parliament would have to go,” commented Democratic Alliance shadow communications minister Niekie van den Berg.
Under pressure
When Baloyi did arrive for the interview, Vadi and De Lange questioned him closely on punctuality and being able to work under pressure. Baloyi, who is operations director for International Business Research, previously worked for various government organisations, such as the CSIR and the National Intelligence Agency.
Interviews with the other candidates continued without incident. The candidates are Lahlang Somo, a former MTN legal advisor; Tshepo Molai, a former director of Futuristic Business Solutions, which was implicated in the infamous arms deal; Linda Dalbock, a PR and marketing practitioner; and Stephen Mncube, a former Sentech chairman and director of arivia.kom.
None of the MPs would comment on the quality or their impressions of the candidates as more hearings are scheduled. Similarly, none of the candidates would comment on the politicians.
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