Nomvuyiso Batyi, a councillor at the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA), is threatening legal action after communications minister Faith Muthambi failed to appoint her as chairperson of the telecom regulator's council.
This is according to the Sunday Times, which reported Batyi's appointment as chairperson was allegedly on condition she approved a TV licence for Infinity Media, which is part-owned by the Guptas.
Batyi declined to comment on claims that she had been asked to approve the TV licence. However, citing sources, the newspaper stated Batyi's appointment was conditional on her approving the application for the licence.
"I am taking the minister to court. She will get the papers when they are ready," the newspaper quoted Batyi.
Department of Communications spokesperson Mish Molakeng provided a brief response to the reports, stating: "The ministry refuses to be drawn into such spurious allegations."
While ICASA councillors were recently sworn in, the telecoms regulator has been without a chairperson since Stephen Mncube's departure last June. The ICASA council should be made up of eight councillors and a chairperson.
Following the end of Mncube's tenure, analysts noted the regulator needed a strong leader, supported by able councillors and an effective executive.
Although the position of chairperson of the regulator's council must first be gazetted by the minister before the appointment is made, last year it was already reported that Batyi was the top candidate for the job.
Batyi, who is currently serving her second term as an ICASA councillor, has LLB and BProc degrees from University of Fort Hare.
Batyi has held various positions in different organisations. She has worked as an investigator for the Competition Commission of SA, and then moved to ICASA, where she started as a manager for competition and was later appointed as acting senior manager for policy analysis and development.
As a councillor at ICASA, her core function is to ensure regulations are developed within the legislative ambit governing broadcasting, electronic communications and other related legislation.
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