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Arthur Goldstuck: crashing halt to Carrim's progress

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 26 May 2014
Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx.
Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx.

ITWeb asked Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx, for his reaction to the Cabinet shuffle.

1. What is your general reaction to the split between telecoms and postal, and the "reconfiguration" of the DOC? It would make sense if you were ring-fencing the disaster area that is SABC, but to throw it in with GCIS tells us that it will now be part of a ministry of PR. Adding ICASA to the mix is like sending a telegraph (although you'd need to add the Post Office then), that the regulator is going to have its teeth pulled.

2. What is your take on the new ICT sector ministers and deputies? It's not so much who they've put in but who they've taken out. We've only had two competent communication ministers in 15 years, and neither of them served in the post for more than 12 months. That tells us government is not serious about leveraging ICT, despite the president's statement that the ministry was being split in two as a result of the growing importance of the sector. Each of the two ministries is being run by a minister whose career is not covered in glory, when we had a minister who was finally getting things done. It's as if government WANTS telecoms to be kept in the previous decade.

3. How do you think the new structure will work in terms of organisation and goal delivery (broadband, spectrum, NDP, digital migration, etc)? It's a mystery how it will work, until the new minister learns the ropes and decides whether the broadband framework fits into his own framework. With luck, he will allow the technocrats to get the job done.

4. What does this mean for SA's telecoms/ICT sector, which was already a R180 billion industry in 2012? It means government would probably like to see it becoming a smaller industry. Or it means government is hoping to stir up the air to see who takes what sides, so that they can clip the wings of those on the wrong side. Of course, none of these make sense, but then nor does the dumping of Yunus Carrim and the appointment of less than stellar performers.

5. Would it not have made sense in your mind for an ICT ministry (converged) in light of the movements that we are seeing in business (Telkom, BCX, Vodacom, Neotel, MTN, Telkom Mobile, etc)? An ICT ministry would have made far more sense. The very names of the new ministries invite confusion. The role of ICASA, in particular, is going to become very schizophrenic, as it will have to intervene constantly on another department's turf.

6. Will the latest move undermine any progress SA has seen under the leadership of Carrim, in your opinion? Or will it advance the sector? The latest move brings to a crashing, grinding, mind-numbing halt the progress made under Carrim.

7. How important is a track record and experience when it comes to the appointment of ministers of critical sectors like telecoms and DOC (ie, former state security's Siyabonga Cwele and Faith Muthambi)? A track record in expertise is irrelevant, as Carrim demonstrated so visibly. A track record in performance or commitment, on the other hand, is essential.

8. Any other comment? Carrim will be sorely missed.

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