South Africa's switch from analogue to digital television will go ahead using non-encrypted set-top boxes (STBs), says the Department of Communications (DOC).
The DOC dismisses claims that its Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy on the use of non-encryption STBs is up for reversal by the African National Congress (ANC).
"The Department of Communications wishes to place on record that the ANC National General Council never discussed a possible reversal of the Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy as reported in the Business Day and Business Report on Monday, 12 October 2015," reads a DOC statement.
It adds: "The matter of encryption was also not discussed in the commission and plenary sessions of the National General Council when the report of the commission was adopted."
Policy reversal
As South Africa plays catch-up with the rest of the world to migrate to digital terrestrial television viewing, reports of policy reversal on the use of non-encrypted STBs for digital migration threatened to delay the process even further.
On Monday, Business Day and Business Report newspapers reported DOC minister Faith Muthambi could be forced to reverse her digital TV policy after disobeying the ANC's policy on the digital migration process.
In 2013, the ANC resolved to use encrypted STBs for the country's migration; however, Muthambi went against the ruling party's mandate and decided to adopt non-encryption for the digital migration process in the country.
According to the newspapers, Jackson Mthembu, the newly-elected head of the ruling party's executive subcommittee on communications, said Muthambi had failed to consult the ANC on her policy.
"The ANC wants to sit down with the minister and hear from her why she decided on this policy. Our interest is to protect the public broadcaster and to make sure that people who do not have access to pay-TV do not receive an inferior service," Mthembu was quoted.
False claims
In a statement, the DOC dismissed the reports as false, saying these issues were never discussed.
"The ANC's communications sub-committee chair Jackson Mthembu was quoted in both Business Day and Business Report as saying that Ms Muthambi had failed to consult the ANC on her policy. This is patently untrue," reads the statement.
It notes: "It is imperative for the sub-committee chair Jackson Mthembu to clarify that when he spoke to these two publications, he was expressing his own personal views."
To read the full DOC statement, click here.
Migration under way
Last month, the DOC placed its first order for 1.5 million STBs with the Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA).
The DOC's order with USAASA forms part of government's plans to subsidise five million poor TV-owning households by providing free STBs.
Following the order, the DOC kicked-off the digital migration process on 2 October, in the Square Kilometre Array area of Kai Garib Municipality in the Northern Cape.
The migration process started with Muthambi registering households that will receive subsidised STBs in that area.
According to the DOC, it will distribute 16 000 STBs free to the Northern Cape community. The department plans to conclude the migration from analogue to digital in the Northern Cape by 1 January 2016.