StarSat has accused the communications regulator of ulterior motives following a raid on the broadcaster’s premises.
StarSat has slammed Icasa’s Wednesday execution of a search-and-seizure warrant throughout which the communications regulator, accompanied by the police, raided StarSat’s premises in Midrand and disconnected infrastructure together with servers, web cables and computer systems.
In line with StarSat, Icasa overreached by confiscating gear additionally belonging to StarTimes Media, inflicting disruption to broadcasts throughout 23 African nations the place it offers providers, mentioned StarSat.
Pule Mabe, head of public affairs and technique at StarSat, mentioned at a media briefing on Thursday afternoon that Icasa officers executing the raid refused to take steerage from StarSat workers members on the particular gear to disconnect, opting as a substitute to disconnect all gear “indiscriminately”.
That is even supposing gear belonging to StarTimes allegedly didn’t fall underneath the warrant’s purview, as a result of whereas guardian On Digital Media’s (ODM’s) licence has certainly expired (the explanation for the raid), StarTimes’ licence is legitimate.
Mabe claimed Icasa “could have contravened” the Icasa Act in the way in which it carried out the enforcement motion. It additionally allegedly approached the courtroom ex parte, “which means that in approaching the Justice of the Peace, we should always have been current to additionally state our case”, Mabe mentioned.
‘Aggressive’
He argued that as a part of the method of confiscating StarSat’s gear, Icasa had an obligation to justify that every piece of apparatus taken was “materials to an investigation Icasa is endeavor”, however that no such justification was forthcoming.
“Primarily based on the joy and the taking of apparatus that doesn’t fall underneath the world of ODM … we aren’t saying there may be an agenda however Icasa’s actions recommend there may be an agenda,” mentioned Mabe.
Learn: Icasa raids StarSat, pulls plug on infrastructure
Earlier within the week, in response to a query from TechCentral forward of Wednesday’s raid, Mabe had mentioned he didn’t imagine there was a political motive for Icasa’s determination that StarSat ought to cease broadcasting in South Africa as a result of its licensing woes.
Mabe mentioned there have been many events StarSat tried to interact with Icasa, however the regulator was sluggish to reply to the corporate’s letters and assembly requests. He additionally admonished the “aggressive” behaviour of Icasa representatives at StarSat’s premises on Wednesday.
“We now have averted saying this as a result of we respect people, however a few of their behaviour sought to recommend that they appear to be positioning themselves for different issues maybe, in different terrains, that could be standing in the identical competitors with ourselves – moreso as a result of now we have seen actions from Icasa to a different establishment that gives the identical providers that we’re offering right here,” mentioned Mabe cryptically.
In line with Jan Harmse, advertising and marketing supervisor at StarSat, the gear taken has disrupted providers for name centre, web, digital terrestrial tv, direct-to-the-home satellite tv for pc and streaming providers throughout 23 African nations “who’ve performed nothing flawed”. Because of this, viewers within the affected territories could have entry to some channels and never others, whereas the standard on some channels could also be poorer than they’re used to.
“A few of our greatest channels like Discovery Channel and Nationwide Geographic are usually not accessible in any respect as a result of they’re beamed to South Africa first earlier than they’re despatched to the remainder of Africa,” mentioned Harmse.
Following Wednesday’s raid, StarSat’s authorized counsel approached the excessive courtroom in Pretoria searching for to interdict Icasa’s actions. TechCentral understands the appliance is but to be filed as a result of the signatures from StarTimes Media, as the opposite affected get together within the matter, are required earlier than it may be processed. StarSat has mentioned it plans to method the workplace of communications minister Solly Malatsi, too.
‘Affront’
“That is an affront to plurality and variety within the media,” mentioned Mabe.
TechCentral has requested Icasa to touch upon Mabe’s accusations towards it and can replace this text if suggestions is supplied. – © 2024 NewsCentral Media
