Letter from the Minister of Communications dated 9 November

2004 to the Speaker of the National Assembly, in terms of section

65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of

1999), explaining the delay in the tabling of the Annual Reports of The

Universal Service Agency and the Universal Service Fund for

2003-2004:

Dear Madam Speaker

I would like to sincerely apologise that the Universal Service Agency/

Universal Service Fund’s (USA/USF) Annual Report and Financial

Statements for 2003/04 financial year were not tabled in Parliament

within six months after the end of the financial year as required by the

Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act no 1 of 1999).

The delay in the submission of the USA/USF’s annual report is due to

the entity’s inability to finalise these as the result of the exodus of key

finance personnel.

I would like to assure you that I would, in future, ensure that the

annual reports of this entity are tabled timeously.

Kind regards,

signed

MINISTER