The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has, as part of its efforts to collect outstanding licence fees and enforcing compliance from operators, closed down Amatole Telecommunications Services (trading as Easttel) in East London. The Authority obtained a search and seizure warrant from the local Magistrates Court in East London against Amatole Telecommunication.
Amatole has since failed to pay its annual licence fees in terms of their licence terms and conditions from 2009/10 financial year.
There have been a number of meetings between ICASA and Amatole to regularise their licences. On 29 August 2012, Amatole Telecommunications Services signed an Acknowledgement of Debt which payable over a seven month period. ICASA agreed to the payment plan on the 6 September 2012. Two payments were made but Amatole has since defaulted on the payment arrangement which invalidated such agreement.
The warrant was executed by ICASA inspectors and members of the local South African Police Service where radio equipment and other Microwave radio apparatus were confiscated. At the time of execution of the warrant Amatole failed to produce any valid licence.
Furthermore, the Authority is aware of the Order issued by the East London Circuit Court in relation to the seizure and we are still studying it.
For media enquiries please contact:
Paseka Maleka
Tel: 011 566 3455
Cell: 079 509 0702
E-mail: pmaleka@icasa.org.za
