Charged with regulating the telecommunications, broadcasting and postal industries in South Africa, Icasa is an independent statutory agency that could not be better placed to inject the kind of growth and innovation-focused zing that South Africa needs to enable sustainable digital transformation that will create jobs and futures.
In the public interviews, 20 candidates with expertise and qualifications in relevant fields including broadcasting and telecoms policy, engineering, technology, frequency band planning, law, marketing, journalism, entertainment, education, economics, business practice, and finance will be in the spotlight. But if there is one thing we know too well about appointments to public bodies, it's that strong qualifications and stated experience alone won't cut it.
Against the backdrop of a crumbling Post Office, an ailing SABC, ongoing spectrum controversies, massive international telco investor interest and a Donald Trump-led crusade against communications regulations, parliamentarians would do well to grill all candidates on their lateral thinking, understanding of human behaviour, practical applications in an African context and - fundamentally - a passion for hard work.
