The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) has closed down a telecommunications company in the Eastern Cape as part of its drive to collect outstanding licence fees - currently standing at R 480 million - and enforce compliance.
Amatole Telecommunications Services (trading as Easttel) in East London has been closed down after the authority obtained a search and seizure warrant from the local Magistrates Court against the company.
ICASA says Amatole has failed to pay its annual licence fees in terms of the company's licence terms and conditions from the 2009/2010 financial year.
"There have been a number of meetings between ICASA and Amatole to regularise their licences. On the 29 August last year, Amatole Telecommunications Services signed an Acknowledgement of Debt, which is payable over a seven month period."
ICASA says it subsequently agreed to the payment plan, on 6 September, and thereafter two payments were made, but the company has since defaulted on the payment arrangement - invalidating the agreement.
This week ICASA inspectors and members of the local South African Police Services confiscated radio equipment and other microwave radio apparatus from Amatole. At the time of execution of the warrant Amatole failed to produce a valid licence.
ICASA has acknowledged a court ruling by the East London Circuit Court in favour of Amatole, which suspended ant set aside the search and seizure warrant from ICASA, ordering the authority to return seized equipment. "We are still studying it."
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