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ICASA chief jailed for 20 years

February 18, 2019

By Chris Forrester

South Africa’s perilous media sector is again making news. Now it is ICASA, the media and telecoms regulator, which is in the headlines.

The chairman of ICASA, Rubben Mohlaloga has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for fraud and money laundering – and it seems that despite the ruling ICASA cannot relieve him of his post.

Mohlaloga is appealing the trial ruling. The verdict was in connection to a scam involving fraud of Land Bank as well as money laundering. He was released on bail pending appeal.

Mohlaloga was appointed Chairman of ICASA in December 2017 having been a member of ICASA’s board since 2013. The fraud occurred when he headed up parliament’s Committee on Agriculture.

“ICASA hasn’t decided that he is no longer the chairperson. That is a decision that has to be taken by the minister in Parliament because they are the ones who appoint councillors, so as ICASA we have to wait until all those processes have been concluded,” stated Paseka Maleka, a spokesperson for the regulator.

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