Chairperson, Deputy President, Members of Parliament and our guests, the catalytic role played by information and communications technology, ICT, in our economic growth and development cannot be overemphasised. In 2005 we as a country acknowledged and accepted that fact, and we came up with the Electronic Communications Act, which advocated the convergence of telecommunications, broadcasting and postal services.
The significant and central role of the Independent Communications Authority of SA, Icasa, in the ICT sphere is the following: to regulate the cost of electronic communications services so that they can be affordable; and to ensure the expansion of our electronic communications network - infrastructure - so that everyone in South Africa can have access to electronic communications.
However, for Icasa to succeed in achieving its role, we need to strengthen continually its capacity in the light of the changing technological and market environment. We need a competent and well-resourced Icasa, which can regulate and also have the capacity to monitor adherence to its regulations.
The regulation for the wholesale call termination cost, which came into effect on 1 March, is most welcome and will see the cost of telecommunications in the call termination wholesale price going down to 73 cents.
A vacancy for one councillor for Icasa will exist on 1 March 2011, and the committee, after having interviewed the candidates, recommends that the House, in terms of section 7 of the Icasa Act, Act 13 of 2000, as amended, submit to the Minister of Communications a list of suitable candidates which is supposed to be at least one and a half times the number of councillors to be appointed.
As the committee we have deliberated on the matter and all parties agree that Dr Marcia Socikwa and Ms Nomonde Pearl Gongxeka be recommended by this House to be submitted to the Minister for consideration, in that one of them be appointed as a councillor when the term expires on 31 March 2011. We hope that the House will accede to the recommendation of the committee. I thank you. [Applause.]
There was no debate.
Question put: That Dr Marcia Socikwa and Ms Nomonde Pearl Gongxeka be recommended for appointment to the Council of Independent Communications Authority of South Africa.
Question agreed to.
Dr Marcia Socikwa and Ms Nomonde Pearl Gongxeka were accordingly recommended for appointment to the Council of Independent Communications Authority of South Africa.