Pretoria - The Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA) says the terms of councillors William Currie, Joseph Lebooa, Miki Ndhlovu and William Stucke came to an end between September and October.
This was taken into account during ICASA’s planning at the beginning of the financial year, according to ICASA spokesperson Paseka Maleka.
In a statement on Thursday, Maleka said in planning for the councillors’ end of terms, all council activities were headed by a councillor whose term was not going to end during the current financial year and supported by outgoing councillors.
“Accordingly, the Authority is confident that it has put in place sufficient measures to accommodate the departure of some councillors,” said Maleka.
ICASA thanked the outgoing councillors for their contribution to the authority and wished them well in their future ventures.
“The ICASA Act, as amended provides for the continued and legitimate decision-making by the Council of ICASA, even in instances where there are fewer councillors in office at any given time, as has been the case previously.
“There has, in the past, been periods when there was less than the full complement of councillors in office and this did not impede decision-making or bring into question the legitimacy of decisions,” he said.
Maleka said therefore recent media reports suggesting that the ICASA Council and its activities would be hindered were “mischievous”.
He said the work of the council would not be hindered by the departure of the councillors.
“The Minister of Communications, Faith Muthambi, last week requested councillors whose terms of office are ending to complete their handover and wrap-up their activities a month after the end of their terms of office,” Maleka said.
The appointment of councillors is done through the Minister after a Parliamentary process and the term of office of councillors is four years. – SAnews.gov.za
