• About
  • Our Team
  • Contact Us
Saturday, April 1, 2023
Falcons
  • Home
  • The Cases
  • Insight
  • In the Press
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • The Cases
  • Insight
  • In the Press
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

Home » Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams in R1.8bn TV aid scandal

Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams in R1.8bn TV aid scandal

by Aishah Cassiem
May 12, 2021
in Uncategorized
Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams in R1.8bn TV aid scandal

Ndabeni-Abrahams, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies is at the centre of a R1.8 billion scandal where funds were sourced from National Treasury in early March to finance a Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project through the Universal Service Access Agency of South Africa (Usaasa) which has still not materialised. Picture: Siyabulela Duda

READ ALSO

Ramaphosa may have to consider the prospects of donning orange overalls

If it makes cash but you have no clout, Rupert and co will muscle you out


Durban – STELLA Ndabeni-Abrahams, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies is at the centre of a R1.8 billion scandal where funds were sourced from National Treasury in early March to finance a Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project through the Universal Service Access Agency of South Africa (Usaasa) which has still not materialised.

The project was supposed to benefit Grade 12 pupils at the start of the Convid-19 pandemic but has not yet taken flight.

Pupils from poor communities were to be kept up to date with their educational programmes via the SABC’s platforms during the lockdown.

However, it will no longer be relevant as they are already in the middle of their final exams. These explosive details were revealed by an employee in top management at Usaasa who wished not to be identified.

The whistle-blower stated that more than 880 000 DTT set-top boxes costing Usaasa about R6 million a month were gathering dust at the Post Office as South Africa continued to fall behind schedule in switching from analogue to digital signal.

The project, which forms part of Usaasa’s Broadcasting Digital Migration (BDM) Programme, would get the assistance of installation services through the Universal Service Access Fund (USAF) which falls under Usaasa. However, in a letter written by National Treasury’s Deputy Director-General for Public Finance Dr Mampho Modise on May 6 to Usaasa’s newly appointed caretaker, Basil Ford, it was confirmed that the approval was on condition that it did not form part of the BDM programme.

Modise also confirmed that National Treasury granted provisional approval for surplus funds from interest earned amounting to R242m to be retained by the USAF for the 2019/20 financial year.

“These funds will be used to assist Grade 12 learners affected by the lockdown due to the Covid-19 virus.”

Ndabeni-Abrahams is accused of appointing Ford because he is a close associate of her husband Thato Abrahams who apparently controls the Usaasa DTT set-top box budget, according to the source.

Ndabeni-Abrahams and her husband had previously denied his involvement in several projects, and did not respond to questions about the TV project.

“Basil’s tenure has been nothing less than a Hollywood movie alongside Usaasa’s acting chief financial officer Frik Nieman seconding him to ensure the procurement of more than 100 000 TVs for the matriculants affected by the lockdown with an estimated cost of R242m channelled through to companies linked to Thato Abrahams,” the source said.

“The minister also wanted the board to appoint Sentech to run the digital migration and the broadband roll out, respectively, which Usaasa would have had to bankroll as it has done with the SA Post Office distribution of DTT settop boxes costing Usaasa millions.”

He added that Nieman, who is also chairperson of Usaasa’s Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC) organised a late night meeting via a virtual platform on September 20 where members of BAC met Sentech to discuss its appointment for the R1.8bn project.

The National Treasury confirmed that they gave approval to use surplus funds from the interest earned (R242m) to assist Grade 12s through rolling out digital TVs.

“However, we confirm that this (project) is not part of the BDM programme and that the National Treasury was not represented at the September 20 meeting.”

When asked about the number of TVs that were distributed thus far and if some were gathering dust at the Post Office, Treasury directed Independent Media to Usaasa, the Post Office and the DCDT.

Mish Molakeng, the minister’s spokesperson, would not comment saying: “Please note, Usaasa is the implementing agency of the BDM and I have referred the questions to them.”

The Post Office claimed that they were not part of the September 20 meeting and had not stored any TV sets for the programme.

Sentech said they were not part of the Usaasa Grade 12 project, but have recently taken over the project management of the distribution of the DTT settop boxes for Usaasa.

After several emails and calls, over a period of seven days and promises to comment, Usaasa had not done so by the time of publication

Independent Media Investigations Unit


ShareTweet

Related Posts

Ramaphosa may have to consider the prospects of donning orange overalls
Uncategorized

Ramaphosa may have to consider the prospects of donning orange overalls

June 20, 2022
If it makes cash but you have no clout, Rupert and co will muscle you out
Uncategorized

If it makes cash but you have no clout, Rupert and co will muscle you out

October 13, 2021
AYO battles FNB in court over discrimination
Uncategorized

AYO battles FNB in court over discrimination

May 19, 2021
Does the DA hope to control Independent Media?
Uncategorized

Does the DA hope to control Independent Media?

May 18, 2021
Independent Media presents its case to SCoF, restates threat to media freedom
Uncategorized

Independent Media presents its case to SCoF, restates threat to media freedom

May 18, 2021
Oceana faces probe over BEE fraud claims
Uncategorized

Oceana faces probe over BEE fraud claims

May 18, 2021
Next Post
‘Senior judge broke the law’

‘Senior judge broke the law’

EDITOR'S PICK

Is KZN the factory of hitmen?

Is KZN the factory of hitmen?

March 8, 2023
ANC KwaZulu-Natal displays political intolerance

ANC KwaZulu-Natal displays political intolerance

February 15, 2023
Nepad concerned about South Africa’s energy crisis

Nepad concerned about South Africa’s energy crisis

February 9, 2023
ANC’s 30-year rule marked by empty promises and rhetoric

ANC’s 30-year rule marked by empty promises and rhetoric

January 23, 2023

POPULAR NEWS

Presidency reveals progress made to curb energy crisis engulfing SA

Presidency reveals progress made to curb energy crisis engulfing SA

January 23, 2023
Cyril Ramaphosa broke the law – Phala Phala Farmgate report

Cyril Ramaphosa broke the law – Phala Phala Farmgate report

December 1, 2022
Bawa accused of obstructing the course of justice

Bawa accused of obstructing the course of justice

October 27, 2022
Banks’ failure to adhere to FATF guidelines poses a major risk for SA economy

Banks’ failure to adhere to FATF guidelines poses a major risk for SA economy

August 25, 2022
RIGHT OF REPLY: The IRR will not forsake its classical liberal values

RIGHT OF REPLY: The IRR will not forsake its classical liberal values

August 18, 2022

About

The Falcons mission is to provide quality in-depth reporting on matters that would otherwise not be covered by mainstream media, to equip the public with factual information that are hidden from the public eye so they can be able to demand accountability from the country’s leadership. – We speak truth to power.

Categories

  • banking
  • conflict, war and peace
  • corruption
  • crime, law and justice
  • economic sector
  • economy
  • economy, business and finance
  • financial and business service
  • government
  • In the Press
  • Insight
  • investments
  • law
  • macro economics
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • The Cases
  • Uncategorized

Recent Posts

  • Is KZN the factory of hitmen?
  • ANC KwaZulu-Natal displays political intolerance
  • Nepad concerned about South Africa’s energy crisis
  • ANC’s 30-year rule marked by empty promises and rhetoric

Copyright © 2023 - All rights reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • The Cases
  • Insight
  • In the Press
  • About
  • Our Team
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2023 - All rights reserved