President Jacob Zuma has signed into law two new acts that are relevant to the ICT industry.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No.2 of 2014) seeks to provide for more clarity on the powers and duties of the Independent Communications Authority (ICASA), its councillors and committees; improve the efficiency of ICASA; and conform the ICASA Act more closely to the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999).
The Electronic Communications Amendment Act, 2014 (Act No.1 of 2014) amends the Electronic Communications Act, 2005 (Act No.36 of 2005), so as to align it with broad-based black economic empowerment initiatives, improve the governance provisions of the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa, to refine licensing issues.
The Act also seeks to give power to the Minister of Communications to issue policy directions to the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA). It further seeks to broaden the scope of policy directions that may be issued by the Minister.
Other changes seek to improve the governance and structure of the USAASA board, including the fiduciary duties of the board.