Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 3.3 (2008 = 5.0; 2006 = 4.6) 3.2 Broadcasting is regulated by an independent body adequately protected by law against interference whose board is appointed – in an open way - involving civil society and not dominated by any particular political party. Section 192 of the Constitution of South Africa provides for “an independent authority to regulate broadcasting in the public interest … to ensure fairness and a diversity of views broadly representing South African society”. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) was established in terms of the ICASA Act 2000 (amended in 2006) and is in charge of the regulation of telecommunications, broadcasting and postal services. It is an independent body whose Council is selected through a parliamentary process: the parliamentary committee on communications calls for nominations from the public; after public interviews of short-listed candidates the committee submits a list of names numbering at least one and a half times the amount of seats to be filled to the minister of communications; the minister then selects his/her proposed appointees from the list and submits their names to Parliament for final approval. Parliament can request the minister to review his/her decision if it is not satisfied with the proposed list or any names on the list. Public officials or party political office bearers as well as persons with a financial interest in broadcasting are not allowed to become members of the Council. Although the parliamentary process laid down in the original act of 2000 was watered down by the amendment in 2006 (under the previous law the minister was not involved in the selection process) and despite the fact that parliament’s choices are obviously dominated by the ruling party which enjoys an almost two thirds majority in the House and thus the committee, experience shows that the AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SOUTH AFRICA 2010 43