The convicted fraudster Rubben Mohlaloga has finally been fired from South Africa's broadcasting regulator where he has been the chairperson of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).
Rubben Mohlaloga has been kept on and served as chairperson of Icasa for months and got paid although he's been convicted and sentenced for fraud.
Rubben Mohlaloga was convicted of fraud and money laundering on 15 January 2018. He was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 14 February 2019 for money laundering and defrauding the Land Bank of R6 million.
Last week South Africa's parliament finally decided to suspend Rubben Mohlaloga after months of being kept on in his position since his conviction and since he was appointed in December 2017, with his suspension that became effective from 15 March.
Stella-Ndabeni-Abrahams, South Africa's current minister of communications finally fired Rubben Mohlaloga by removing him from his position.
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams' decision follows a resolution on Wednesday by the Nasional Assembly in South Africa's parliament. Icasa will now choose a new chairperson for the Icasa council.
South Africa's ministry of communications in a statement on Wednesday said that Stella-Ndabeni Abrahams "has, in accordance with section 8(3)(b) of the Icasa Act, No. 13 of 2002 given effect to the National Assembly resolution and removed Rubben Mohlaloga from office".
"In terms of section 6(1)(j) of the Icasa Act, a councillor who is convicted of, amongst others, fraud; is disqualified from holding office," said Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams in the statement, echoing what the TV industry, opposition political parties, industry experts and public broadcasting and media watchdog organisations have told the department of communications for months.
