The former chairman of the country’s communication watchdog Paris Mashile has been appointed as acting chair of the regulator.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa)announced on Tuesday that it has appointed Mashile as acting chairman after another acting chairperson Rubben Mohlaloga completed his term.
Mohlaloga joined ICASA on 01 July 2013 as a councillor.
He was then appointed an acting chairperson of the Authority on 22 June 2016, a role he fulfilled until the end of his term.
“During his tenure as councillor and acting chairperson, Mohlaloga was instrumental in making sure that ICASA discharges its constitutional and statutory mandate without fear, favour, or prejudice,” Icasa spokesperson, Paseka Maleka, said in a statement.
To ensure continuity, Maleka said the council of ICASA has unanimously agreed to appoint councillor Mashile as the acting chairperson pending the formal appointment of a permanent chairperson.
“As council, we would like to thank Mohlaloga for his contribution to the sector and for his courageous leadership of the organisation during his tenure as the acting Chairperson,” said Mashile.
“We are particularly grateful that he leaves behind an organisation that has turned the corner in respect of its corporate performance, having stabilised the organisational performance level above 70% over the past two years. We are indeed indebted to his leadership and wisdom.”
In April 2016, Mashile was reappointed to the authority’s decision-making council.
Great prospects for tarnished councillor
Arrive late for work, take off your shoes and sleep on the job. In most companies, you’d have limited career prospects, but not at communications regulator Icasa.
M&G reported in June 2006 that according to an exit report by a senior Icasa staffer, Mashile regularly arrived late, took off his shoes and slept on the job during his tenure as a councillor. Yet he was promoted to the top position.
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