United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa has called for an investigation into the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA), to address allegations of corruption and maladministration.

Holomisa issued an open memo to president Jacob Zuma this weekend, drawing attention to documents that cast the agency in what he terms “a very negative light”.

He invites the president to request and examine documents regarding the appointment of Mthinthe Communications in June 2012; as well as subsidy agreements with Mthinthe concluded in 2012 and 2013, which he believes may be excessive.

In addition, Holomisa questions a funding request from Cell C that was approved by the Minister of Communications, but later stopped by a USAASA executive due to questions about its legality.

He also asks the president to examine the qualifications of some USAASA leaders, and question the process whereby they were appointed.

Holomisa draws attention to the fact that broadband roll-out appears to be taking place in selected under-serviced regions of the country – notably KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga – and many of these centres remain unconnected despite the deadline for their commissioning having passed.