The Universal Services and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) board of directors has appointed a new CEO Lumko Caesario Mtimde, who officially started working on 23 May 2016.
The new CEO was appointed last month by cabinet following an extensive recruitment process by the USAASA board in consultations with the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Dr Siyabonga Cwele.
Mtimde is a graduate of the University of Western Cape and University of South Africa, where he completed a BSC in Physiology and Biochemistry and a Postgraduate Diploma in Telecommunications and Information Policy respectively.
He comes with extensive knowledge and vast experience in the field of ICT, having served in regional regulatory  bodies such as the Communication Regulatory Authorities in Southern Africa (CRASA), African Communications Regulatory Association (ACRAN/RIARC),  NetTel@Africa, World Summit Awards (WSA), Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) .
He has served in several boards for state-owned Eentities such as the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC),  SENTECH, Media & ICTSeta (MICTSETA) and National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). He was also CEO for the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), Alfred  Nzo Development Agency (ANDA) and the National Community Radio Forum (NCRF).
He also brings public sector management experience, after serving as the Chief Director (Broadcasting Policy) under the late Minister of Communications, Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri and recently Chief of Staff of Minister of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, Minister Senzeni Zokwana.