The Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) has put its troubles with former CEO James Theledi behind it and is advertising the CEO post for a new incumbent.
USAASA chairperson Cassandra Gabriel says the position became officially vacant when Theledi's appeal against charges of sexual harassment was rejected. Currently, Winile Lamani, the agency's operational head, is acting as CEO.
Gabriel says USAASA has turned the corner in terms of receiving the required funding it needs in order to roll out connectivity primarily to historically-disadvantaged people.
“After two years of fighting, the battle has finally been won and our budget allocations have increased. Our operational budgets have increased over three years to R105 million and we are receiving another R55 million for capacity building, and improving our systems and processes,” she says.
USAASA has been identified as the agency that will manage the payment of subsidies for the set-top boxes (STBs), the units that are needed to convert digital TV signals for reception on analogue TV sets.
Government has allocated R400 million for the payment of these subsidies, starting from 2010, to enable disadvantaged people to afford the purchasing of STBs, so they can continue to receive TV signals and access government information and services.
STB specifications are still being finalised and the Department of Communications is still developing a manufacturing strategy for the units.
“Our new CEO will manage the biggest project ever that USAASA has undertaken and it is the type of work that the agency is ideally suited for,” Gabriel says.
The new CEO can expect a salary package of about R900 000 per year, and Gabriel says this is probably lower than equivalent salaries in the private sector.
She also points out that, despite the increased budget, cost savings remain important and the new CEO, unlike the former one, can only expect to fly economy class.
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