House Chairperson, I am not here to recruit anybody, and I hope I will be given a fair chance. My report will be less poetic, less emotional and more sedate.
Last week I reported to the House that the Portfolio Committee on Communications had completed the process of interviewing candidates for four vacancies on the Council of Independent Communications of SA, Icasa.
The committee, and subsequently this House, recommended to the Minister seven candidates for appointment. They were: Mr John Matisonn, Ms Ntombizodwa Ndhlovu, Mr Joseph Lebooa, Ms Mankakane Violet Magagane, Mr William Currie, Adv Luthando Mkumatela and Dr Stephen Mncube.
The Minister had to consider these recommendations and had to recommend four candidates to the House for a final decision. The Minister has now done so. He recommended that Ms Ntombizodwa Ndhlovu, Mr Joseph Lebooa, Mr William Currie and Dr Stephen Mncube be appointed to the Icasa Council. The Portfolio Committee on Communications met yesterday and unanimously agreed to support the Minister's decision. That includes all parties in the committee.
The Minister has considered the matter very carefully and has heeded the advice of the committee. He has taken into account the many challenges that beset Icasa. The recommended candidates possess skills relating to electronic engineering, broadcasting, electronic communications and postal policy, as well as public policy development. The recommended list also goes some way to meet the requirements of representivity.
Should the House approve these candidates this evening, the Minister will have to indicate the respective appointment dates as the vacancies come into effect in June, September and October this year. As I pointed out last week, he must also ensure that there are no conflicts of interest and that each candidate has disposed of any financial interests in terms of section 6 of the Icasa Act before the actual appointment is made.
The committee therefore recommends that the House approve the appointments of Ms Ntombizodwa Ndhlovu, Mr Joseph Lebooa, Mr William Currie and Dr Stephen Mncube to serve on the Council of Icasa. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Question put: That the House approve the Minister's recommendation for the appointment of the following four candidates as councillors to fill the vacancies on the Council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, Icasa:
Mr William Hamilton Currie; Mr Joseph Morakile Lebooa; Dr Stephen Sipho Mncube; and Ms Ntombizodwa (Miki) Ndhlovu.
Question agreed to.