Three months down the line from the African National Congress' new administration being announced, the role and functions within new ICT departments are still being pondered.
The Department of Public Service and Administration's (DPSA's) progress report to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Communications on Friday revealed that, while moves are under way to finalise the transfer of certain functions of SA's new ministries, others are still being discussed.
On 25 May, president Jacob Zuma split SA's ICT ministry in two, creating a new telecoms and postal services ministry (the DTPS) and delegating fresh administrative tasks to the "new" Department of Communications (DOC), now responsible for the dissemination of state information and promoting SA abroad.
The Independent Communications Authority of SA's (ICASA's) placement under the DOC - dubbed by critics as a department of propaganda - has emerged as one of the most controversial moves.
Last month, despite the DTPS indicating it had the authority to direct ICASA, Zuma issued a proclamation confirming its place under the DOC; through the transfer of administration, powers and functions to certain Cabinet ministers in terms of section 97 of the Constitution.
However, the DPSA has indicated to the portfolio committee that matters regulated in the Electronics Communication and Transactions Act, ICASA Act, Broadcasting Act and Electronic Communication Act are going to be interrogated. The state's legal adviser, says the department, is set to advise on the overlaps under the new administration.
The location of ICASA - which has been questioned by the industry, which feels its rightful place is under the DTPS - was also raised by the state law advisor. The DPSA says a meeting will be held with the relevant director generals "to discuss a way forward".
Broadband Infraco
Meanwhile, government's telecoms infrastructure entity Broadband Infraco has agreed in principle to fall under the DTPS (now run by former spy boss Siyabonga Cwele) - ending its era of reporting to the Department of Public Enterprises.
The DTPS says Broadband Infraco has agreed in principle with the transfer to a new shareholding ministry and a proclamation will soon be gazetted, after which the board will meet to ratify the transfer.
"The proclamation [will then] be finalised and submitted for the president's approval. The minister of telecommunications and postal services will officially replace the minister of public enterprises as the shareholder representative," says the DPSA.
The state's signal distributor Sentech already reports to Cwele's department.
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