Annual Report and Committee Programme

Meeting report

COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE

Communications Portfolio Committee Annual Report

SUMMARY
Due to election pressures, the Committee agreed to attend only to urgent matters over the next few weeks. They discussed the planned visit to the Department on 3 February and the appointment of three new councillors to ICASA. The Committee would ensure that once they have the mandate from the Speaker of Parliament, these appointments would be made in time for the last sitting of Parliament.

The Committee minutes from the previous 13 meetings, and the Annual Report, were adopted with minor technical amendments.

MINUTES
Mr M Lekgoro (ANC) noted that the meeting was one member short of a quorum of nine. He suggested that the Committee examine and adopt the set of minutes from the second half of 2003 and the Committee's Annual Report once there was a quorum. The Committee members agreed.

The Chair suggested that the Committee attend to business that had to be carried out between the present time and the national elections as most parliamentarians were busy with their party campaigns. The national executive had not mandated the Committee to address any matters, nor were there any urgent issues arising with stakeholders. Ms N Mtsweni (ANC) agreed.

Mr Lekgoro explained that a visit to the Department to discuss the Institute for Satellite Applications (ISSA) matter had been arranged for Tuesday 3 February. The Department was also expected to brief the Committee of their plans for the year (at least until elections) at this meeting.

Mr Lekgoro introduced the necessary appointment of three new councillors to serve on the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) board. The process was delayed last year by bureaucratic foot-dragging. However the matter has been tabled to the Speaker of Parliament who was expected to give the Committee the mandate soon.

Mr V Gore (DA) said he felt the Committee should not burden the remaining councillors with work, and thus it was important to appoint new councillors. The process was an involved one, and so the timeframe was an important consideration.

Mr Lekgoro said that if the Speaker of Parliament referred the matter to the Committee (possibly within the following 48 hours) then the Committee would need to be certain of being able to carry out the selection process in time for the last sitting of Parliament. Consensus and commitment from the Committee was needed on whether they would be able to advertise, shortlist, interview and appoint candidates.

Ms M Moruto (ANC) and Mr Gore supported a commitment to completing this process, adding that the proper advertisement period as stipulated by parliamentary guidelines should be adhered. Mr Gore also asked that the Department briefing on the convergence issue be examined.

On the convergence issue, Mr Lekgoro said that there was a 60-day period during which the Department accepted comments from stakeholders. Then the Department would collate the comments and submit them to Parliament. It was doubtful that the Parliament would have time to attend to the matter before adjourning. However, it was important for Members to prepare themselves for the discussion of the Telecommunications Amendment Bill and the politics of convergence. Further clarity on the timetable for the Committee to attend to this matter would be provided on Tuesday.

Mr F Maserumule (ANC) suggested that the minutes and Annual Report be adopted in principle despite the absence of a quorum. Mr M Phadagi (ANC) concurred.

Mr Lekgoro replied that they should follow the formal adoption and adjourned the meeting for a five-minute break to enable the members to co-opt colleagues to reach a quorum. On resumption, a quorum was reached.

Commitee minutes and Annual Report
The Committee examined the set of minutes of meetings from 25 June to 21 November 2003.

Mr Gore asked that the mention of "DP" (Democratic Party) be corrected in every instance to "DA" (Democratic Alliance). The correction was noted.

Ms Mtsweni pointed out that "200" on page six of the Annual Report should read "2000". The correction was noted.

The Report and the minutes were voted on and adopted.

The meeting was adjourned.