By ANA Reporter Aug 24, 2020
Cape Town – Parliament should take disciplinary steps against Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams for defying the National Assembly by not appointing the full list of nominees for the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) council, the Democratic Alliance said on Monday.
Ndabeni-Abrahams on Friday gazetted the appointment of five Icasa councillors but excluded the sixth, Kgosi Matthews, on the list of people recommended by Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications.
Matthews has several years of experience in the postal sector and the minister’s decision not to appoint him has reportedly also raised eyebrows within the ruling party.
DA chief whip Natasha Mazzone said the minister’s stance marked her “latest decision to ignore Parliament” as she had been instructed to appoint six councillors.
“While this may seem a minor infraction, it is not. It is now the second time the minister has decided to override the power of the National Assembly regarding appointments to the Icasa council.”