SA's broadcast digital migration process seems set to remain officially rudderless for the time being, as a presidential proclamation - naming the minister responsible for steering the project - failed to materialise on Friday.
Last week, a well-placed source stated the proclamation - handing responsibility over the project to communications minister Faith Muthambi - had been signed by president Jacob Zuma, and would be gazetted by the end of the week.
However, this morning government officials confirmed that proclamation failed to make it into the latest Government Gazette, but could not immediately explain why.
Department of Communications (DOC) spokesman Ayanda Hollow says he cannot explain the delay, but notes the proclamation is still expected to be gazetted in the near future. "We expected it to appear on Friday, but I can't say why it hasn't. Perhaps it's just an administrative issue, but we are trying to establish what happened."
Democratic Alliance shadow minister of telecommunications and postal services Marian Shinn is also baffled by the lack of a gazetted proclamation. "We don't know whether this is simply a printing issue, or whether there is something else that went wrong. We hope it's nothing more serious though."
Siya Qoza, spokesperson for the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS), would not comment last week, before seeing the proclamation. He did not respond to requests for comment this morning.
Not impressed
Market watchers reacted with dismay last week at the news that Muthambi would be officially named as the minister responsible for steering the project that will eventually see SA's switch from analogue to digital broadcasting.
However, some have stated clarity around the process would at least allow migration to move ahead, after it ground to a halt earlier this year when the broadcast digital migration policy was sent to Cabinet for final approval.
Zuma's reconfiguration of the previous communications ministry - creating the DOC and DTPS - has created much confusion and speculation around the digital migration process. Suggestions of a turf war also surfaced a few months ago, as both Muthambi and minister of telecommunications and postal service Siyabonga Cwele claimed ownership of the project.
However, Muthambi has, in recent weeks, been increasingly vocal about championing digital migration via the DOC, vowing to revive the project and move SA towards digital broadcasting.
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