The council of communications regulator Icasa has appointed Willington Ngwepe as its new CEO, replacing the suspended Pakamile Pongwana who quit under a cloud in August.

Ngwepe, who had been acting as CEO following Pongwana’s suspension in early July, was previously the authority’s chief operating officer. He joined Icasa in September 2014.

Pongwana had been CEO of the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal regulator since November 2013, and was facing an internal disciplinary hearing over unspecified charges.

In late July, the City Press newspaper reported that two legal opinions provided to Icasa had found sufficient grounds to charge Pongwana and subject him to a disciplinary hearing for alleged sexual harassment of an employee.

He also allegedly “displayed gross insolence and insubordination, which are dismissable offences as they constitute misconduct”.

“This related to the ‘disrespectful, condescending and aggressive’ manner he treated Icasa council members,” the newspaper said.

Ngwepe is intimately familiar with Icasa. As chief operating officer, he helped oversee the implementation of its organisational realignment in 2015. He was also responsible for organisational delivery across its regulatory functions.

“The council is excited about the appointment of Mr Ngwepe and we have full confidence in his leadership and management skills,” acting council chairman Paris Mashile said in a statement.

“He is indeed the ideal incumbent to usher Icasa into the new phase as we tackle some of the burning issues such as the high cost of data, spectrum-related projects, and so on.”