When this Bill was first tabled the Inkatha Freedom Party did not like it one little bit. We were not alone. ICASA didn't like it either and neither did industry heavyweights.

Submissions highlighting serious concerns arrived by the kilo.

To start off with, the first draft took away the title "Independent" from the name of the Regulator!

What were we to think about that?!

It placed the function of selecting ICASA Councillors with the Executive!

Parliament, in this regard, was stripped of its current role of advertising for, short-listing and interviewing candidates to be approved by this House.

What were we to think about that?!

It was all too ghastly and to make matters worse, this Bill was integral to the Convergence Bill.

Today is a good news day.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa retains its name and we hope the independence it should have. Time will tell.

The Committee, the Department and its new Director-General, ICASA and industry players in general have worked hard and substantial changes have been effected to this Bill that we in the IFP can live with and support.

We cannot say much in two minutes.