President Jacob Zuma has authorised the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations in respect of the affairs of the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA).
The SIU will, among others, investigate the following allegations:
* Serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of the agency and its board;
* Improper or unlawful conduct by employees of the agency;
* Unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money or property;
* Unlawful, irregular or unapproved acquisitive act, transaction, measure or practice having a bearing upon State property;
* Intentional or negligent loss of public money or damage to public property;
* Unlawful or improper conduct by any person, which has caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public or any category thereof.
* Maladministration in relation to the recruitment process which resulted in the appointment, in 2013, of the CEO of the agency.
The SIU is further authorised to investigate the agency’s funding, by way of a subsidy in the amount of R500-million, to a service provider for the construction and expansion of an electronic communications network for Emalahleni Local Municipality and the procurement of services in relation to the Rapid Deployment of Public Access Facilities Programme and payments made in relation thereto.