The Minister of Communications General Siphiwe Nyanda has the pleasure to announce Dr Stephen Sipho Mncube as the new chairperson of the communications regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). Dr Mncube succeeds Mr Paris Mashile after his five-year term expired on 30 June 2010. His appointment is with effect from 1 July 2010.
General Nyanda has thanked Mr Mashile for his leadership since his appointment in 2005. Paying tribute to Mr Mashile during the latter's farewell function in Sandton, General Nyanda said he had navigated some of the most complex issues with ICASA under Mr Mashile's leadership since being appointed to office a year ago. He listed issues such as mobile termination rates, mobile television, digital terrestrial television, among others.
General Nyanda said ICASA needed to be strengthened with the necessary capacity in order for the regulator to efficiently deliver on its mandate. He emphasised that it was important for ICASA to align its business of regulation with the policy objectives of government and the developmental goals of the country. "This is important especially due to the fact government has placed ICTs at the centre of the country's developmental agenda. We must utilise information and communications technologies (ICTs) to accelerate service delivery and empower our people," said General Nyanda.
He however underscored government's commitment to continue to respect the regulator's independence. "We will continue to engage ICASA within the available frameworks as stipulated by law. Having positioned ICTs as an agent for the change we want to see in our country, it means government is a player in this sector, hence the need for an independent, strong and competent regulator to play referee." General Nyanda wished the incoming chairperson well in his new position. "It is my hope that Dr Mncube, together with the other council members, will continue to steer the regulator in the right direction and ensure that the decisions it takes are those that have a lasting effect on the lives of ordinary citizens and the ICT industry alike.
"My ministry will continue to give the support to the work you do and build public-private-partnerships with a view to addressing the many social challenges facing the country," concluded General Nyanda
Brief background of Dr Stephen Sipho Mncube
Dr Stephen Sipho Mncube is a former manager in the Development Information Business Unit at the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
Dr Mncube is also a former Chairperson of state signal distributor Sentech. He has also served as a non-executive director of Arivia.Kom (Pty) Limited.
He spent some time in the United States of America (USA) where he served in various senior research and management positions at universities, public schools, corporations and institutes, at United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and at the US Environmental Protection Agency. He obtained his PhD in Adult Education, MLS (Information and Library Science) from Syracuse University in the USA and BSC (General Studies) from the Rechester University.
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