Mothibi Ramusi has been appointed as the new chairperson of South Africa’s telecoms regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), making him the sixth person to hold the position.
Ramusi was sworn in at the ICASA head office in Centurion following his appointment by the country’s communications and digital technologies minister, Mondli Gungubele.
In his new role, Ramusi has pledged to act with integrity, uphold the public interest, and serve the people of South Africa by providing electronic communications, broadcasting, and postal services in line with the Constitution and the ICASA Act.
Ramusi has over three decades of experience in the ICT sector and will play a crucial role in advancing ICASA’s mandate to regulate telecommunications, broadcasting, and postal sectors in the public interest, promote competition, and ensure universal access to communication infrastructure and, services and content. He replaces Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng, who left the regulator in June 2022. Ramusi’s appointment was recommended by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communication and Digital Technologies.
ICASA’s acting chairperson, Peter Zimri, warmly welcomed Ramusi’s appointment and emphasised its significant role in advancing the authority’s mission of effective regulatory oversight in the sector. Ramusi will officially commence his five-year term on 2 May 2024.