Hon Chairperson, I proudly rise on behalf of the movement of the people, the ever so gallant ANC. Our predecessors and proud leaders of this more than a century old movement, when passing the baton to us, said, "Comrades, libambeni lingashoni." ["Comrades, don't let the sun go down on it."]
Today I rise to support the chairperson of the portfolio committee in his presentation of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Amendment Bill in this House. It is our conviction and we take courage from the fact that the spear will never and shall never fall.
You will recall that on the occasion of the Minister of Communications' 2013 budget speech on 21 May 2013, the former Minister, Dina Pule, indicated, in relation to the legislative programme in the course of the year 2013, that the department would be introducing four legislative amendments. One of them is the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Amendment Bill.
Let me remind the House that on that Budget Vote it was not as if there were never any naysayers or those that did not believe that the ANC would deliver on their promise. The first movement and party to secure the freedom of this country and the independence of its state support institutions is, and remains, the ANC. All these existing institutions are there because the ANC believed that they had a major role in democracy. Therefore, we in the ANC fail to understand how we can create such institutions and later on compromise their independence.
The ANC-led government established the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa as an independent regulatory body of the South African government, functioning under the Department of Communications. Our position has not changed in this regard. We encourage Icasa to continue respecting the Constitution and the law, to perform its duties and take decisions in an impartial manner without fear, favour and prejudice, and without brooking any political or commercial interference. That's what we originally supported and did with this Bill.
In conclusion, the ANC will never shy away from its responsibility to govern, as we are always ready to govern this country. The ANC supports the enactment of this Bill with all the amendments, as agreed to by the committee. Thank you. [Applause.]