Article by Ana Monteiro - Moneyweb.co.za

The Democratic Alliance says the newly appointed head of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa), Paris Mashile, suspended �a total of at least 12 staff members�, on his first day in his new position.

The suspended employees proposed the appointment of former Icasa councillor Gerard Petrick to fill the gap left in the Icasa board when Mashile was appointed chairperson.

The DA’’s spokesperson on communications, Dene Smuts, says the staffers were suspended for having used an Icasa letterhead to nominate a former Icasa councillor, Gerhard Petrick, to fill the vacancy on the council left when Mashile was named chairperson.

Smuts says: �I understand the charge is �the use of office equipment for personal gain�.

Mthunzi Zokwe was chosen as a councillor; a decision taken by the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications, on which Smuts serves.

Viewed as an outsider in terms of odds, Paris Mashile was selected to succeed Mandla Langa as the telecommunications and broadcasting regulator�s chairperson. His appointment � which by law must be made by the president of the country � was announced last Thursday.

Smuts says executive secretary Shameen Naidoo and council advisor Sean Rankin, along with other staff members who nominated Petrick for the position, were served notice of suspension.

Smuts says the charge is �entirely unconvincing. The nomination was obviously done in what staff members considered the public interest, and MPs [ministers of parliament] from all parties accepted it as such in shortlisting Petrick.�

She adds: �Whether Icasa staff should have done so on the regulator�s letterhead might be debatable, but MPs did not debate it. Mr Mashile presumably thinks we erred and that he knows better. It seems to me that the chairperson�s action is petty and vindictive, and that MPs should take it under consideration inasmuch as it reflects on our decision to shortlist.�

Icasa CEO Jackie Manche said she �was not aware of the developments�; however, Icasa spokesperson Jubie Matlou told Moneyweb: �the organisation has decided not to issue statements or comment on the matter�. He said that Mashile was unavailable for comment as he was attending a number portability conference in England.

Smuts says she will bring the development before the committee on Tuesday when it sits in Johannesburg.