ICASA - Wolf in sheep's clothing

ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa), 29 June 2006

It seems like one of the ‘knights in shining armour’ in the ADSL in South Africa saga has turn out to be nothing more than one of the ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’. How can we trust them to make a positive difference if they can’t even stick to their own rules?

Like they say: “Money talks and....” Well, if their mission is to protect our interests we definitely need a new guardian. The recent scandal would have been enough reason to be ‘beheaded’ during the Middle Ages but apparently we are living in modern times now. Modern times where those who take the average Joe for an imbecile mistake the lack of personal responsibility and positive action for bravery.

The scandal we are talking about is the one where councillors of ICASA took it upon themselves to participate in the activities of stakeholders in the ICT (Information and Communication) sector. They did this while they knew it’s illegal. They did this while they knew it would be damaging to your and my interests. They did this while they knew ADSL service deliverance is already a farce in this country. They did this while they knew you have to pay at least five times the tariffs charge in almost all other countries. The best of all they might still be doing it.

Fourteen senior managers have already left the ‘party’ since January because of interference in their duties and Paris Mashile’s (Chairman of ICASA) leadership failures. His apparently someone with ‘no spine’. This alone is a sure sign of ICASA’s failure to deliver.

Don’t hold your breath for fireworks from ICASA’s side. Don’t expect them to come down hard on Telkom or come out fighting for you. They will be the first to leave you out in the cold. This will surely be the case while the rotten core remains intact.