The public spat between the Department of Communications (DOC) and the African National Congress (ANC) on the issue of the Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy is a sign minister Faith Muthambi must be held to account for her failures.
This is according to the Democratic Alliance (DA), which says Muthambi has been the weakest link for far too long.
In a statement, DA national spokesperson Phumzile van Damme states: "The Department of Communications and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has lurched from crisis to crisis.
"It's time for president Zuma to tell minister Muthambi: 'you're fired'," she adds.
DOC scorecard
According to Van Damme, the war of words between the DOC and ANC reveals the ruling party is more angered by Muthambi contradicting party policy, but she must be held to account for her failures.
Under minister Muthambi's leadership in the DOC, South Africa failed to meet the digital migration deadline of 17 June 2015, which was set by the International Telecommunication Union.
The minister has also failed to sort out the financial and management troubles that have plagued the public broadcaster. Muthambi, in defiance of the Public Protector and without following due process, appointed Hlaudi Motsoeneng as permanent COO at the SABC, she notes.
In August, Muthambi and her delegation came under fire for using taxpayers' money to fund a nine-day trip to the Atlanta Lifestyle Hub Show and Santa Fe Folk Art Market in the US. The costs of the trip, which included accommodation, ground transport, flight tickets and allowance for Muthambi and three members of her delegation, amounted to R593 516.
"If the ANC is serious about holding Muthambi to account, and steering the Department of Communications and the SABC to calm waters, it will put pressure on president Zuma to fire Muthambi," says Van Damme.
Staying put
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga says Muthambi has the backing of senior officials within the ruling party who will make sure she retains her position as minister.
"She has the backing of someone who has strong control within the party, so nothing is going to happen to her as long as that someone is still in charge," he says.
"She has high protection and that is why she is punching above her weight."
However, Mathekga says the ANC's biggest problems are the internal struggles within the party.
"What we need is a good alignment of communication between government and the ruling party, which is something that is missing."
DOC tight-lipped
This week, it was reported that the topic of encrypted set-top boxes (STBs) for the country's digital migration was back on the ANC's agenda, with the party's communications commission noting Muthambi's non-encryption policy could be reversed.
Despite the DOC releasing a statement on Tuesday, denying any talk by the ANC to reverse the non-encryption policy, the department has kept quiet on the latest notice from the ruling party.
According to the ANC, the minister's statement was unfortunate as it contained a number of inaccuracies relating to matters discussed by the communications commission and adopted by the National General Council.
"It is unfortunate that minister Muthambi, despite this reality, opted again to speak on ANC decisions un-mandated and in the process she unfortunately accused the chairperson of the subcommittee of being a liar," reads the ANC statement.
The DOC failed to respond to ITWeb's questions by the time of publication.
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