The Johannesburg mayoral committee has instituted an independent forensic investigation into the city's decision to buy a 900km fibre broadband network for R1.3bn, mayor Herman Mashaba announced on Friday. However, the decision to investigate would not affect Johannesburg's existing free Wi-Fi programme and the intention to expand it, he said. The purchase was done through the creation of a municipal-owned entity, the Metropolitan Trade Company (MTC), which Mashaba said possessed neither a viable business plan nor the requisite capacity to run a broadband operation of this size. “I have discussed this investigation with the MTC board chairperson and there is appreciation for the steps the city is taking,” Mashaba said. “The chairperson also indicated that the board has been requesting an investigation of this nature for some time, to no avail.” The aim of the Johannesburg broadband network project was to provide access to broadband services, which would improve the city’s service de...

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