Pretoria - Dr Stephen Sipho Mncube has been appointed the new chairperson of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).
Dr Mncube succeeds Paris Mashile after his five-year term ended on 30 June 2010. His appointment is with effect from 1 July 2010.
Communications Minister, General Nyanda said he hoped that Dr Mncube, together with his council members would continue to steer the regulator in the right direction.
"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," he said.
Mncube is a former Manager in the Development Information Business Unit at the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
He is a former Chairperson of state signal distributor Sentech. He has also served as a Non Executive Director of Arivia.Kom (pty) Limited.
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.
Nyanda further added that ICASA needed to be strengthened with the necessary capacity in order for the regulator to efficiently deliver on its mandate, emphasising that it was important for it 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 ICTs to accelerate service delivery and empower our people," said General Nyanda.
He added that government will 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," he said.
