South Africa has its first minister of communications in the democratic era who isn’t a member of the ANC – and significant policy changes could be on the cards.
its first minister of communications in the democratic era who isn’t a member of the ANC – and significant policy changes could be on the cards.
The communications ministry has broad oversight of the ICT sector – and of organisations such as communications regulator Icasa, the State IT Agency, the South African Post Office and the SABC. Figuring out the role of Sentech, the state-owned broadcasting signal distributor, which could face an existential crisis in the coming years as South Africans abandon terrestrial television for internet streaming services;
Proposals include a possible break-up of the SABC and a radical overhaul of the South African Post Office, among other major policy interventions.On the SABC, the DA makes these recommendations: The party said that on its watch, the SABC – assuming it is retained as a public broadcaster – will “ensure that the public interest always come first and that the SABC remains an independent public broadcaster and institution as per the Broadcasting Act, and not a platform for political interference and corruption”.
Turning to the Post Office, the DA policy document stated: “Despite the entity receiving more than R8-billion in government bailouts since 2018, its financial position is yet to recover. It cannot even get the basics right, with a severe mail backlog and basic IT systems not working.” Additionally, unused or underutilised network and other infrastructure belonging to the Post Office “must be leased out to the private sector”. The company has an “extensive footprint across the country whose infrastructure can be used as points of presence by ICT and other operators”.Separating the wholesale and retail operations of Telkom into two separate companies and proceeding to sell government’s shares in these.
“Government institutions at the helm of driving the national ICT agenda have been plagued by weak political appointments and paralysed by corruption and instability in leadership. This has led to a lack of policy continuity and consequently, created uncertainty in the market,” according to the policy document.Ridding state-owned ICT institutions of weak political leadership and appointees, and dealing with corruption.
“Icasa must regularly make spectrum available through transparent and competitive auctions. Regulation must be based on sound research and follow a cost-based formula that encourages infrastructure investment and sharing between operators, while also ensuring a more level playing field for new and smaller operators.
Developing clear ICT policy and regulations following both a market-driven and developmental approach by “ensuring we regulate for increased access, competition and capacity-building in the sector”.Licensing spectrum not awarded in the 2022 auction and using funds from future auctions to increase access to telecommunications in underserviced areas.
DA Minister Mat Cuthbert Solly Malatsi
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