The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) intends to create a full-time internal forensic unit to follow-up immediately on any suspicious transactions within the organisation.
This comes a week after the "cautionary" suspension of CEO Jackie Manche, as a result of alleged violation of the Public Finance Management Act, the ICASA Act and ICASA`s policies and procedures.
ICASA spokesman Jubie Matlou said this week that an external hotline would also be established to allow whistle-blowers to report "any improprieties" without compromising their identity.
Matlou said the alleged irregularities relating to Manche were only discovered recently, and were brought to the attention of the chairperson by some ICASA employees.
"The fact that ICASA is taking action by instituting a forensic investigation is a clear indication that the authority will not tolerate any form of corruption, fraud, theft and improper conduct within its ranks. The authority is taking stakeholders and the South African public in its confidence by taking this swift step on this matter. The establishment of an internal forensic unit would help beef up existing systems."
Department of Communications spokesman Albi Modise says the department has full confidence in ICASA`s management ability and is therefore not likely to intervene in the matter.
"The Department of Communications would like to respect the independence of the regulator and accordingly afford the institution the space to handle the matter in a manner that befits the nature of the allegations."
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