The war of words about the country's Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy is a sign of communication breakdown between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Department of Communications (DOC), political analysts say.
Yesterday, the DOC released a statement that dismissed reports that digital migration was discussed at the ANC's National General Council (NGC). Subsequently, EyeWitness News reported the ANC lashed out at DOC minister Faith Muthambi for claiming these discussions did not take place.
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga says the public spat between the DOC and ANC shows lack of coherent communication between the party and government. "There is an internal power struggle."
ICT veteran Adrian Schofield adds: "I see this as a further example of the fracturing of the ANC, which is fast losing its grip on the responsibilities of government."
Party politics
Reports by the Business Day and Business Report newspapers surfaced on Monday, which stated Muthambi's policy on non-encryption for digital migration could be overturned by the ANC.
The ANC and Cabinet's policy for the switch from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT) was that the set-top boxes (STBs) used for digital migration should be encrypted.
Earlier this year, Muthambi went against the party's policy and decided on non-encryption STBs as the country migrates to digital TV viewing.
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.
However, a DOC statement dismissed the reports, saying the issue of digital migration was never discussed at the NGC. "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."
To read the full DOC statement, click here.
Who calls the shots?
According to Mathekga, it is the mandate of the departments to carry out the policies of the ruling party, but there is a general concern within the ANC that its policies are not being implemented.
The government departments' word is supposed to be final until the ANC calls those in charge and says you are not pushing the party's mandate very well, and then they recall the person and deploy someone else, he states.
However, in this case, Muthambi knows the balance of powers is on her side.
Mathekga explains: "The reason the minister is taking a strong position against the ruling party is because there are certain officials in the party who are also in government that have probably said we will stand by you and your policy."
Koffi Kouakou, senior lecturer in government communications and scenario planning at the Wits School of Governance, also notes that when it comes to policy-making, the real power lies with the ANC.
"There has been an extraordinary breakdown in communication between the ANC-led government and the DOC, which has resulted in huge fundamental issues for DTT in SA," he says.
According to Mathekga, the members that are making all the noise about the DOC's digital migration policy are not strong enough and not really in charge to see a change in policy and push for Muthambi's removal from this portfolio.
"There are powerful members within the ANC who stand to gain from this process and will make sure the minister retains her position on digital migration," he says.
Biggest loser
Kouakou says the public bickering on the digital migration policy is not good news for South Africa; it's a waste of money, time and effort.
South Africa missed the 17 June 2015 digital migration deadline and the country is playing catch up with the rest of the world, which resulted in delays in the production of STBs.
The DOC placed its first order for 1.5 million STBs with the Universal Service and Access Agency of SA (USAASA) only last month.
However, STB manufacturers were left in the dark when CZ Electronics, BUA Africa and Leratadima were the only manufacturers allocated a purchase order. USAASA awarded the R4.3 billion tender to manufacture STBs to 26 companies.
According to Schofield: "Any reversal of the digital migration policy will be the death knell of SA's opportunity to benefit from the digital dividend."
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