ICASA's straight-talking, highly-efficient and sometimes sleepy chairman, Paris Mashile, came under fire in Parliament this week.
The Great Doppy One was pressed by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications on whether ICASA would meet its obligation of completing the licence conversion process by July, as mandated by law.
Mashile stuttered that some issues were beyond the regulator's control, but that extensive business plans had been drawn up, although they were only tentative, because things change.
But, he added, these plans could be produced if needed, and begged for the "indulgences of the operators; but this is a two-way street".
(Say what?)
"Just answer simply. Are you able to or are you not able to meet your obligations in terms of the Electronic Communications Act?" asked committee chairman Ismail Vadi.
Just then, ICASA CEO Karabo Motlane interjected by saying: "Some things are just not within ICASA's control; for instance, the DOC [Department of Communications] is responsible for setting the licensing fee and we are still waiting for them." (Some truly skilful buck-passing)
Mashile later said: "Meeting the deadline is one factor; however, we must also make the right decisions."
So, I guess that, after all that, the answer is "no"?
Ahoy matey, where's that laptop?
If the country's fast-moving and dynamic Parliament is concerned about the DOC's lack of urgency, then not all is well back at the ranch.
Martin Czernowalow, news editor, ITWeb
Some people just can help themselves. Take for instance the SA Navy's first woman admiral - a highly-respected and award-winning woman - who skilfully torpedoed her career over a laptop.
Rear admiral Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala, also the Navy's director of transformation, was convicted and fined in the Thaba Tshwane Military Court for fraud.
She has subsequently resigned and should probably be glad that the SA Navy no longer makes offenders walk the plank.
Have no fear, the DOC is here
Also under the whip this week was the Department of Communications (DOC), grilled by Parliament about the huge leaps and bounds it has taken in preparing the country for the migration from analogue to digital terrestrial TV.
"This is the biggest roll-out in this country's history, with a fixed time frame, and I don't get a sense of urgency from the department about it. This should really be government's number one priority," said committee chairman Ismail Vadi (ANC).
Now this is very worrying. If the country's fast-moving and dynamic Parliament is concerned about the DOC's lack of urgency, then not all is well back at the ranch.
I mean, should someone perhaps check for a pulse?
But communications DG Lyndall Shope-Mafole was quick to allay fears. Replying as to why there may appear to be no sense of urgency, she said "because we [in the DOC] are used to working in this ever-changing environment, which moves very fast".
Ok, I'm not sure if there is a comeback for that...
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