The High Court in East London has set aside a warrant to seize equipment from a telecommunications company that failed to pay its annual licensing fee.<\/p>\n
The warrant had been obtained by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa).<\/p>\n
Icasa officials raided the premises of Amatole Telecommunications Services on Wednesday, confiscating and sealing equipment after the company failed to pay a debt on its licensing fee.<\/p>\n
Icasa spokesman Paseka Maleka said on Thursday Amatole had agreed to pay off its debt over a seven-month period.<\/p>\n
“Two payments were made, but Amatole has since defaulted on the payment arrangement, which invalidated such agreement,” said Maleka.<\/p>\n
Amatole did not deny owing Icasa, but said its lawyers were not made aware of the raid.<\/p>\n
Operations director Mark Gray said the company had repeatedly requested to meet Icasa to discuss payment plans, but had not obtained a response.<\/p>\n
He said Icasa confirmed receiving the request for a meeting after three failed attempts, but they had not been warned of a raid.<\/p>\n
Gray said shortly after the High Court suspended the raid, the company resumed operations with no disturbances.<\/p>\n
He said Amatole would fight Icasa “tooth and nail” before the company was shut down.<\/p>\n
The two parties were expected to appear in the High Court in East London again on May 29.<\/p>\n
Gray said telecommunications companies were frustrated by Icasa’s inconsistency.<\/p>\n
Last month, wireless internet provider iBurst had its premises raided by Icasa for apparently not paying its radio frequency spectrum licenses.<\/p>\n
iBurst said it was in the middle of negotiations with Icasa when the raid took place.<\/p>\n
Mobile operator Cell C has also denied that it has outstanding fees owed to Icasa.<\/p>\n
“Cell C has never been advised by Icasa that it owes R107.3 million or any other amount in outstanding licence fees, and accordingly Cell C denies that it owes this amount,” the company said in a statement on its website.<\/p>\n
Icasa owed R500 million<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Accusations fly in iBurst, ICASA battle<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n iBurst wins court interdict against ICASA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n ICASA breaks silence on iBurst equipment seizure<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n