The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) will appoint a five-member Consumer Complaints Committee (CCC) and has issued an invitation for interested parties to apply.
The CCC will investigate, conduct hearings if applicable, and make findings on complaints from consumers or on allegations of non-compliance with applicable Acts by communications providers, the notice says.
The chairperson of the committee will be a judge of the High Court of SA or an admitted and practicing advocate, attorney of the High Court or a magistrate with at least 10 years` appropriate experience, it says.
Members of the CCC, who will serve on a part-time basis, must have suitable qualifications and experience in communications, economics, electronic engineering, broadcasting, law, commerce, technology or public policy.
Wits lecturer and researcher Charley Lewis, who undertook the SA leg of a recent study by Balancing Act to assess consumer activity in Africa, has previously stated that ICASA failed to take the issue of consumer complaints seriously.
He said while ICASA has a consumer protection unit, there was little data provided on the number of complaints received annually and how these complaints were resolved.
The recently promulgated Electronic Communications Act, which provides for the formation of the CCC, also requires ICASA to prescribe regulations setting out the minimum standards for end-user and subscriber service charters, including requirements in respect of pricing and services, billing, privacy, and complaints procedures.
ICASA also has the option of including certain consumer protection provisions in licences for the protection of the interests of the subscribers and end-users.
The closing date for applications is 29 September.
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