Norman replaces Icasa’s outgoing CEO, Willington Ngwepe, who recently joined MTN as chief of staff.
Nkhetheleni Norman Gidi has been named the acting chief executive officer of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), serving from 1 September 2022 to 30 November 2022 or until a permanent replacement is found.
Willington Ngwepe informed Icasa that he has opted to explore other career options and is not available to be considered for re-appointment to serve a second term as CEO.
According to Icasa, Norman brings a plethora of Icasa-specific expertise to the interim position, having been with the authority for more than 12 years.
He first joined Icasa in August 2009 as a senior manager for licensing. In this role, he was instrumental in the management of the licensing of broadcasting, Electronic Communications Act (ECS) licensing, and postal services licences, Icasa says.
Norman has held a number of roles at the authority, including general manager for licensing, executive: legal, risk, and complaints and compliance committee in 2017, and most recently, executive: policy research and analysis starting in 2021.
Norman has been a High Court admitted advocate since 2009. He has a Master of Laws from the University of the Witwatersrand and has successfully completed a number of leadership programmes, such as the Leaders in Development Program and the Spider Capacity Building on ICT Regulation, Policy, and Practice from Stockholm University (Harvard Kennedy School).
“The council expresses its full confidence in Advocate Gidi, who has contributed substantially to the work and goals of the policy research and analysis division and Icasa as a whole. The council further looks forward to working with him in this important organisational transition,” says Icasa.
“On behalf of both myself and the council, I wish to extend my congratulations, support and well wishes to Advocate Gidi on his new role. I know that he can count on the co-operation and assistance of both staff at Icasa and the wider stakeholder community during this time,” says Dr Charley Lewis, acting chairperson of Icasa.
