Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Communications has recommended that fraud-convicted Rubben Mohlaloga be removed from his post as chairperson of the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) council.
The Parliament communications committee instituted the process to remove Mohlaloga from the council last month following direction from the communications minister.
Mohlaloga, whose appointment as chairperson of ICASA council came into effect on 1 December 2017, was found guilty of fraud and money laundering by a specialised commercial crimes court in January.
According to the Hawks, Mohlaloga, together with former Land Bank CEO, Philemon Mohlahlane, and other accomplices, conspired and transferred R6 million into Masepule Dinga Attorneys' trust account.
After the R6 million was received, say the Hawks, the funds were distributed and a farm was bought for R2 million as well as an X5 BMW and a BMW 118i for Mohlaloga, who was a member of Parliament and chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Agriculture at the time.
Following Mohlaloga's fraud conviction, the communications ministry, which exercises oversight of ICASA, said it would wait for guidance from Parliament on what steps to follow concerning the chairperson's future at the telecoms regulator.
In a statement, Parliament's communications committee says it acted in terms of Section 8 of the ICASA Act, following Mohlaloga's fraud and money laundering conviction on 15 January 2018.
"The committee took a decision on 27 February 2018 to allow Mr Mohlaloga an opportunity to make representations on why he should not be removed, wherein, among other things, he requested to be placed on precautionary leave with full pay, pending the appeal process. Today, having reconsidered his representation and consulted with Parliament's Constitutional and Legal Services Office, the committee rejected his request."
Comeback king
Mohlaloga was appointed as an ICASA councillor in July 2013 even though he had already been charged with defrauding the Land Bank of R6 million.
However, the case had yet to go through the court process. At the time, the communications department, under Dina Pule, said it was unaware Mohlaloga had the fraud charge hanging over his head when he was short-listed. He had also not disclosed the matter to the department, despite holding a senior position.
During his time at the telecoms regulator, he served as both councillor and acting chairperson. His tenure at ICASA came to an end last September, after the regulator announced his departure and said Paris Mashile would replace him as acting chairperson.
Last December, Mohlaloga made a comeback and was appointed as chairperson of the ICASA council.
It remains unclear whether Mohlaloga will appeal the committee's recommendation to have him removed from his post.
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