South Africa's troubled broadcasting regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has fired 16 staffers in just the past 5 years for things like theft, going missing without leave, crashing a car, gross negligence and insubordination; while the convicted fraudster, Rubben Mohlaloga continues to be Icasa chairperson.
Rubben Mohlaloga remains employed, paid and in the position as Icasa chairperson 8 months and counting after he was convicted in court of fraud in mid-January.
The South African government's department of communications, in a written reply to parliament to answer a questions about how many people have been fired at entities like Icasa over the past 5 years, said 16 Icasa staffers got fired between 2013 and 2018 for reasons relating to gross negligence, theft, misconduct and insubordination.
During the 2013/2014 financial year, 3 out of the 4 people who were fired were because they were found guilty of gross insubordination. The 4th was fired by Icasa because of gross negligence.
In 2014/2015 Icasa fired another 5 staffer. Two were fired as a result of gross negligence related to supply chain management, one for gross insubordination, another for gross misconduct and poor work performance, and the 5th got fired after going missing without leave.
In 2015/2016 Icasa fired a staffer for gross insubordination.
In 2016/2017 Icasa fired yet another 3 staffers - two because of theft and stealing Icasa assets and the third who got fired over gross negligence.
In 2017/2018 Icasa got rid of another three workers because of misconduct related to gross negligence, gross insubordination and gross negligence related to the loss of an Icasa vehicle
None of the fired 16 staffers were paid paid severance packages.
