Still no DG for DOC

The Department of Communications (DOC) has not yet appointed a director-general, despite plans to have the position filled by the end of March.

In an interview with communications minister Roy Padayachie, ITWeb was told the process of filling the vacancy is still continuing and will be complete by the end of April.

In November, Padayachie stated the first priority of the new ministry involved an intervention in the reconstruction and development of the DOC.

He committed to more efficient and effective leadership, planning and budgeting. The first point of action was to be the appointment of a new DG - as the previous DG, Mamodupi Mohlala, was fired by former minister Siphiwe Nyanda - and senior management members, a process that Padayachie hoped to conclude within three months of being in office.

Harold Wesso has been filling the position of acting DG.

Democratic Alliance deputy shadow minister of communications Niekie van den Berg says the department needs to appoint a DG soon.

“The minister came in with a lot of bright things for the ministry's future and when we looked at the strategic plan compared to last year's one it was a fresh take and full of ideas.

“There was a new vibrancy in the department. What's important here is that they don't lose that momentum. If they lose that momentum at this stage it will be devastating.”

For this reason, Van den Berg says the position of DG and senior management positions that are vacant need to be filled as soon as possible.

“In the meantime, Harold Wesso is there and he is doing a great job, but they need to get someone soon so they don't lose momentum.”

The minister spoke yesterday at the annual Information Society and Development multi-stakeholder forum, highlighting the department's focus on ICT's role in rural development and presenting the draft rural ICT development strategy for discussion.

“The rural development strategy involves collaboration with many departments, including science and technology, rural development and land reform, and public enterprises because of Sentech and Broadband Infraco,” said Padayachie.

He added that the DOC is working with the Department of Science and Technology on the wireless mesh networking project that sees rural areas being connected to the Internet.

Padayachie also said the department wants to get Sentech and Broadband Infraco working together. “We need to synergise assets belonging to the state. They belong to us and we need to leverage them and get them working together. It shouldn't matter if they're in the DOC or in public enterprises.”

“We need to focus on building of infrastructure, reducing costs for services, skills development and multiple avenues for access so that rural areas don't just have access to broadband, but have cyber centres and centres like the Thusong centres.”

Padayachie said the forum should see the DOC's engagement with stakeholders, business, labour and civil society to openly debate the role that the ICT sector can play in economic growth and development.

He said the draft strategy seeks to achieve certain strategic outcomes. This includes universal access and connectivity in rural areas, and the use of technology to meet the social and economic needs of South African citizens.

“The ICT rural development strategy will also anchor around attracting capital investment in broadband infrastructure and services in rural areas,” said Padayachie.

The minister told ITWeb that the Millennium Development Goal of having 50% broadband penetration by 2015 is not a worry, despite the fact that SA currently only has around 4% penetration.

“I don't think that will be a challenge for us. Experts tell us we won't have a problem with that. The estimation is that by the year 2020, we'll be talking about market capitalisation value of about R250 billion.”

The minister said interventions will be needed across the value chain of the ICT sector. This includes broadband infrastructure, encompassing the implementation of projects on connectivity to schools, further education and training centres, traditional institutions, clinics and health centres.

It also includes creative industries innovations such as animation and content digitisation; electronics manufacturing with an intention to create more than 24 million jobs through the digital terrestrial television set-top box manufacturing scheme; ICT SMME development, including business incubation and e-cooperatives growth targeting the unemployed; and business process outsourcing.

“We have also put on the table a discussion on the long-term vision for the sector. In this vision, we contend and project a high growth trajectory of about R250 billion by 2020 from a mere R179 billion by 2010. “

Padayachie said the exponential growth of the ICT sector will still be driven by the growth in the mobile communications market, including both voice and data services.

“With a low penetration of 11% in smartphones, data services will grow even faster as demand for data increases.”

He also said the ICT services market has contributed significantly to the growth of the telecoms market where the market grew from R31 billion in 2007 to R45 billion in 2010.

“It is estimated that the data market will grow the fastest and it is estimated by 2015 the market will reach R24 billion. Increased competition regulation and the licensing of broadband spectrum will further spur on the growth of the data market. We envisage that the data market will grow to around R28 billion by 2020.”