Parliament's communications committee looks set to appoint ISPA treasurer William Stucke to fill the vacant ICASA council position, with at least three out of the four political parties set to support the nomination.
Communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda's ministry officially informed the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications this week about his preferred choice, after politicians sent a shortlist of Stucke and Telkom Media head of regulatory affairs Khulile Boqwana as their two choices. The committee is scheduled to deliberate the recommendation on Tuesday, 27 October.
Stucke was considered a rank outsider for the position by industry observers and politicians, firstly because of his race - with the ruling ANC party having signalled early that it was eager to ensure equity on the ICASA council - and, secondly, because of his reputation for being an outspoken critic of the regulator.
However, these issues now appear to have been set aside as Parliament and the DOC look for ways to fix the regulator that is increasingly being seen as incompetent and a major reason for the current high cost of telecommunications.
“The recommendation was not based on politics, but rather on his (Stucke's) individual skills,” says Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications chairman Ismail Vadi. “The minister applied his mind and the recommendation is based on competency and skills that ICASA lacks.”
Democratic Alliance communications spokesperson Lindiwe Mazibuko says she was surprised at the recommendation, because, while Stucke was the preferred choice for the opposition parties, it appeared Boqwana was the ANC's preference.
Mazibuko adds that she also hopes Stucke will be able to heal the rift between the ICASA council and its executive, an issue that is hampering the regulator.
Juli Kilian, communications spokesperson for the Congress of the People, says: “This news is good because ICASA really needs someone with Stucke's skills. As we have seen, ICASA has failed the nation and I hope that Stucke can help correct this.”
Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille was unavailable for comment, but during the interview process signalled her support for Stucke.
ISPA general manager Ant Brooks says Stucke has been a member of the association for about 12 years and has served about six years as part of its executive committee, and he also chairs some of its working groups.
“Tracy Cohen (a former ICASA councillor) was our regulatory affairs advisor some years ago and when she became an ICASA councillor we cut our ties, so we have been through this process before. We are excited that someone like William will be a councillor, but we will be sorry to be losing his services,” he says.
Brooks says Stucke owns an ISP called Qpop, which he will have to leave, and is also involved with Afrispa - the African Internet Service Providers Association.
Share
