Former Icasa chair joins Vunani

Johannesburg - Black owned and managed financial services company Vunani [JSE:VUN] on Monday announced the appointment of Paris Mashile to Vunani Technology Ventures, a company which specialises in offering ICT advisory and investment banking to high-growth, mid-market ICT entrepreneurs.

Mashile has been appointed CEO of Vunani Electronic Communications, a division of Vunani Technology Ventures. The appointment seeks to establish Vunani Technology Ventures as a key advisor to the industry, it said.

Mashile recently stepped down as chairperson of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to join Vunani Technology Ventures.

JB Maree, CEO of Vunani Technology Ventures said: "We are delighted to have Paris Mashile join Vunani Technology Ventures. He brings considerable experience, insight and understanding of the South African ICT legislative framework as well as passion for the sector.

"Our vision is to become a supportive force in entrepreneurship within the ICT sector. We want to develop a platform for the creation and delivery of innovative products, in line with government policy. Paris will contribute significantly in helping us create this platform."

Mashile said: "This appointment will allow me the opportunity to advise an industry whose development I am passionate about. There are numerous challenges facing ICT entrepreneurs, for example convergence of telecommunication, information and media industries, resulting in limited scope for delivery mechanisms. This is precisely why there is a necessity for advisory that is sensitive to these challenges, incorporating policy, regulatory and industry expertise.

"Technological innovation will need an entrepreneurial link in the value chain to satisfy these market needs. As part of the team at Vunani Technology Ventures, I am committed to development of this intellectual capital, and thereby in realising an information society in South Africa," he concluded.