Johannesburg, 30 Jan 2012
The new board for the Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) will be appointed by March.
This was announced by communications minister Dina Pule last week. “USAASA has been plagued by financial maladministration, which resulted in the previous minister [Roy Padayachie] instituting a forensic investigation. Five senior managers of the agency were suspended pending the finalisation of the investigation.”
In October, the Department of Communications (DOC) ordered a forensic investigation into the agency for financial mismanagement worth millions of rands, after an internal audit report recommended further investigation into the agency's project management office.
Board terminated
The minister added that a disciplinary enquiry has been instituted against the affected managers. “The board's term of office has also been terminated. I will be finalising the appointment of the new board by March 2012.
“I am happy with the progress being made as a result of my decision to second two officials from the department to act as executive caretakers to steer the entity towards recovery. The agency is beginning to find its feet, with the business strategy and corporate governance systems having been put in place.”
The executives are Sam Vilakazi, acting deputy director-general of finance, and Themba Phiri, acting deputy director-general of the Presidential National Commission on Information Society and Development.
Corporate strength
“The DOC's ability to fulfil its mandate effectively is dependent on the quality, motivation and skills of its personnel. We are targeting to fill the vacant top management positions with permanent staff as a matter of urgency.”
Pule said since she came into office three months ago, she has met with the boards and the executives of the state-owned enterprises that report to the department. “I must say the engagements have been an eye-opener.
“We are committed to the department's vision which is 'SA as a global leader in the development and use of ICTs for socio-economic development and the betterment of people's lives'.”
Pule said the department will strengthen the corporate governance of its entities. “I am planning to host an SOE corporate governance workshop which will create a platform for dialogue and standardise our expectations.”
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