´Leaked´ information grave concern to Telkom

Last week Business Day reported that ICASA has called on the State Security Agency to investigate who leaked the information. A source had initially said the councillor leaked the findings and recommendations of ICASA's complaints‚ compliance committee (CCC) on the matter between Neotel and Telkom. Neotel took Telkom to the CCC after Telkom refused to give it access to its telephone exchanges that connect customer premises.

The leak was brought to ICASA's attention by one of the companies involved in the case and asked the regulator to explain how the industry body got wind of the information before it was communicated to the affected parties.

Telkom said "as a member of the industry regulated by ICASA‚ Telkom is dismayed by a possible violation of due process which will unavoidably jeopardise the trust and confidence of the industry in the regulatory processes."

"Appalled" by the breach

Telkom said as a party directly affected‚ it would be "appalled" by the breach‚ particularly if it was committed by an ICASA councillor‚ as alleged. It is investigating the implications of possible damage that it may suffer from the alleged conduct relating to the leak of confidential internal information if found to be true.

Telkom expects that any person found responsible for "such despicable conduct" will be dealt with severely and it is of the view that an in-depth investigation is imperative to restore a sound relationship between ICASA and the industry that will undoubtedly be compromised should the alleged conduct be proved‚ it said.

Paseka Maleka‚ ICASA's spokesman‚ said on Wednesday: "The allegations of the leaking of information has been brought to the attention of the Authority and an investigation has been commissioned in that regard. The Authority will provide further details as soon as the investigation has been fully concluded."