Manto rejects Theledi's appeal

By Paul Vecchiatto for USAASA

Cape Town, 29 Apr 2009

Acting communications minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has rejected the ministerial appeal lodged by suspended Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) CEO James Theledi.

Theledi was suspended by the agency after being found guilty, during an internal disciplinary process, of sexual harassment. This related to an incident that occurred at the Presidential International Advisory Council on Information Society and Development meeting held in September.

An independent chairperson, who recommended Theledi's dismissal, conducted USAASA's investigation. However, Theledi decided to appeal the guilty verdict by going directly to the former communications minister, the late Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri.

Tshabalala-Msimang, who is currently the minister in the presidency, is acting communications minister until a new cabinet is appointed next month.

ITWeb has learnt that the letter sent to Theledi from Tshabalala-Msimang's office essentially distanced the minister from him, by saying she had nothing to do with his appointment and nothing to do with his case. She reverted the matter back to the USAASA board.

This means Theledi has to appeal his dismissal through the regular procedural channels that include a review of how the inquiry was conducted and, if necessary, approach the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

USAASA chairperson Cassandra Gabriel says Theledi has “... requested the right to appeal and the board is in the process of considering it”.

Gabriel confirmed Theledi is still on USAASA's payroll pending the finalisation of the process.

Digital switch

Meanwhile, it is essential that the issue be dealt with as soon as possible. The agency is gearing itself up to handle the subsidy payments that will have to be made to millions of poor South Africans, so they can afford to buy set-top boxes (STBs) that will be necessary to receive digital signals.

The country is already six months into the three-year switchover period as the broadcasting system moves from analogue to digital signals. The STBs will be necessary to enable digital TV signals to be displayed on analogue sets.

“We believe that digital broadcasting has a phenomenal role to play in providing universal broadband access and services to the majority of the population,” Gabriel says.

She notes that the agency is waiting for the Department of Communications to convene a meeting with all role players in the digital migration switchover.

“USAASA is gearing itself up [to distribute the subsidies] and Phineas Moleele has proven to be a very competent acting CEO,” Gabriel says.