Yunus Carrim, who has been minister of communications for eight weeks, plans to fill key vacancies within the department as well as pool a team of experts in a bid to move forward with several projects.
The department came under fire after former minister Dina Pule left without having completed many of the projects she set out to finish.
The department has set realistic goals that can be implemented by the time elections roll around in May, says Carrim. Whatever is done must create a strategic foundation so that "whoever comes in" will be bound by the work that has been done. "What does it matter who is there?"
Among the goals is that performance agreements with the DG and all deputy DGs will be reviewed, says Carrim. DG Rosey Sekese, who won her case against Pule in the Labour Court, will remain in her position until the elections, after which time the incoming executive can review appointments.
Carrim says the department is looking for an acting CFO for the next six to eight weeks, requires deputy DGs for several departments, and is bringing in advisors.
The minister was speaking at the University of Witwatersrand's Graduate School of Public and Development Management this afternoon.
Industry input
The department is also in the process of setting up a forum comprised, preferably, of academics and not industry players, says Carrim. He believes these actions will make up for weaknesses within the department. "We can't do it alone."
A green paper on ICT Policy Review should be done by the end of November, and a forum should be held in the first week of December. Carrim adds that he has had more than 160 requests for meetings, and has already held 59.
Carrim wants a more effective DOC and a less fragmented sector, which - although competitive - can be less factitious. He also aims to speed up the spectrum policy, with the aid of external experts, so it is wrapped up before the end of next March and able to drive down the cost to communicate.
In addition, a meeting will be held with broadcasters and industry to sort out the issues holding up digital migration, notes Carrim. He says government is ready, but the issue of conditional access has been held up.
The DOC expects to launch digital television in the next few months as long as all outstanding issues are sorted out.
Digital television was meant to turn on almost a year ago, but was delayed by a court battle over conditional access. The set-top box control encryption system is meant to protect the local decoder market, and prevent theft of boxes.
Etv took Pule to court over her decision to appoint Sentech to handle the issue of conditional access. The free-to-air broadcaster won its bid and the department later dropped its appeal against the ruling.
As Pule had said conditional access may be reviewed, the round table will seek to sort out issues, says Carrim. He says various options will be reached, and the consequences considered, with the aim to reach consensus. "Who am I to come in there and undo and unravel?"
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