Sir – The IFP notes that Communications and Digital Technologies Minster, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has misled Parliament by not honouring the seven-day deadline she promised the Portfolio Committee on Communications, during the mini-plenary debate on the budget for her department.
Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams told Parliament that she will speedily issue a policy direction to ICASA, for the licensing of the high demand radio frequency spectrum within seven days. This after President Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Addressed raised the matter and Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni months ago.
It is not the first time that Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams has missed the deadline and this shows that she is not serious and responsive to the plight of millions of South Africans, rural and urban and in particular the youth who cannot afford exorbitant data costs and telephone calls.
Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams had been expected to issue the policy direction to ICASA by the end of April 2019, but at the last minute unexpectedly deferred it to after May 8 general election. It is now almost three months after the May 8 election, yet we still do not have any definitive answer delaying a process which could open up the industry and ensure that small and medium enterprises benefit.
ICASA is expected to license access to the spectrum to telecoms providers which are still waiting. We urge Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams to walk her talk and prioritise the policy directive to ICASA.
Zandile Majozi MP – IFP Spokesperson on Communications and Digital Technologies
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