The Universal Services and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) has named James Theledi, outgoing deputy director-general of the Department of Public Enterprises, as CEO. Theledi's appointment is effective from 1 June.
Theledi joins USAASA following a difficult year when the organisation was plagued by a lack of consistent leadership, inadequate resources and accusations that it was failing to fulfil its legislative mandate.
USAASA chairman Cassandra Gabriel says Theledi brings new energy and leadership to the agency and it will no longer be "business as usual".
"Times are changing and we are working very hard to change the culture and direction of the organisation," she says.
Theledi was previously responsible for overseeing government's interest in public enterprises, including the Telkom IPO, the MNet public offering and arivia.kom, she says. He was also involved in the formation of the Infrastructure Company (Infraco), she adds.
"It was a coup for USAASA to land a CEO of Theledi's calibre."
USAASA has also appointed Ricky Naidoo, former Standard Bank director of social strategy, as head of corporate and regulatory affairs.
Naidoo takes over a position previously held by Tebogo Thupatlaase, who has left the organisation.
New direction
Gabriel previously acknowledged to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications (PPCC) that USAASA had failed to fulfil its mandate.
"The USA did not have a shining reputation for getting things done. Before you honourable members tell us that we are useless, we know that. But we are trying hard to change things, and to convince you that we are changing for the better," she said at the time.
Gabriel says USAASA has made "drastic" revisions to its strategy, as instructed by the PPCC earlier this year.
The revised strategy shows how the agency will access funding for its operations, unlock funds from National Treasury, held for the Universal Access Fund to enable universal access for citizens, and work in close partnership with other government institutions in the ICT sector.
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