ICASA appoints new CEO

Johannesburg, 14 Aug 2007

The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) has appointed Cell C's outgoing head of regulatory affairs Karabo Motlana as its new CEO.

The appointment is effective from 3 September and comes more than 20 months after the previous incumbent Jackie Manche first left the position.

"The authority looks forward to working with him and believes he will be of assistance in meeting the challenges that lie ahead and fulfilling its mandate," ICASA says in a media statement.

Motlana was previously employed by Telkom SA as an executive in the government and regulatory relations department. He was primarily responsible for telecommunications policies and licensing. Before that, he worked as a legal advisor to South African Breweries.

Motlana takes over from acting CEO Stanley Mamaregane.

Former CEO Jackie Manche was suspended in November 2005 following allegations that she violated the Public Finance Management Act, the ICASA Act and ICASA's policies and procedures.

There were also allegations that she mishandled the situation when R110 000 was stolen from the regulator's safe. This led to a political storm and numerous media reports that there was political infighting in the regulator's council.

Manche returned to her post in September 2006, but she soon quit her position and left in December 2006. She and ICASA refused to provide insight into how the allegations of financial mismanagement were finally resolved.