[ad_1]
A draft of a 2011 forensic audit report revealed “adverse findings” regarding the husband of Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams.
The star reported that the document, which was commissioned by the Universal Service Access Agency (USAASA), covers a variety of topics related to human resources, procurement and governance between April 1, 2009 and September 28, 2011.
One of the report’s most damning findings was that irregular and unauthorized spending amounting to more than R80 million had been made.
“It therefore appears imperative that appropriate disciplinary, civil and criminal action be taken promptly for USAASA to be successful in fulfilling its mandate,” the report says.
The report went on to implicate 21 employees, including Ndabeni-Abrahams’ now husband, Thato Abrahams.
The report disappears
One whistleblower alleges that the report was removed from the public record, although it is unclear whether this was done deliberately to protect Abrahams from its implications.
The report allegedly claims that Abrahams was involved in a human resources wrongdoing at USAASA, although the pages providing specific details on the implications “appear to have been deleted and are nowhere to be found.”
Despite this, an anonymous source told The Star that Abrahams was involved in the theft of “about 20 iPads and other electronic devices.”
“The forensic report was delivered to the then deputy minister (Ndabeni-Abrahams) and was hidden from public record while Thato was an employee of USAASA’s marketing and communications department,” the source stated.
An anonymous executive who worked at USAASA during the investigation period also claimed that when they received the report, the missing pages had already disappeared.
The firm that conducted the investigation, Forensic Investigation Risk & Recovery Management, said USAASA management told it to commission the investigation, but would not detail its findings to The Star.
“Obviously, we would need your consent to disclose any information. Under the circumstances, we regret that we cannot agree to your request without directive from USAASA, ”said spokesperson Perun Naidoo.
When asked for comment, Abrahams said he was unaware of either the investigation or the report.
He acknowledged that he took the iPads home, but claimed this was to reconfigure them to use the USAASA intranet connection. Once this was done, he claimed to have returned them to USAASA.
“I joined USAASA in 2010 before meeting my wife. To avoid any perceived conflict of interest issues, when my wife was appointed minister, I resigned, ”Abrahams said.
Now Read: SAA Must Obtain Government Funding Next Week To Continue Operating
[ad_2]
