Communications minister Yunus Carrim has pledged to steady the Department of Communications (DOC) ship.
Carrim, who replaced Dina Pule as communications minister in a July Cabinet reshuffle, was speaking last night at the GIBS Forum, in Johannesburg.
"I have no magic formula to fix all the problems in the department, but what we are doing is setting a foundation for the department to be successful, even if I am no longer the minister," said Carrim. "You have to judge us by what we promised Parliament we will achieve by August next year," he pointed out.
According to Carrim, one of his immediate goals is the appointment of three deputy directors-general in the department by the end of this month. Another objective is to stabilise state-owned enterprises like the SABC, South African Post Office, Universal Service and Access Agency of SA, and Sentech.
He pointed out that the department was beginning to find its feet and that key issues such as digital migration will be finalised by the 2015 International Telecommunication Union deadline.
However, he revealed that the world is rapidly changing, spurred by massive developments in ICTs, and that SA can improve. "If we don't improve, we will be left behind by other nations," he said.
"Communication today is regarded as a human right, just like water and electricity, and we really have to get our act together. If we don't get our act together in the next year or so, it will be difficult to catch up. If we lose one year, we lose five years."
Carrim said the cost of communication in SA is still too high in comparison with other African countries like Kenya. He noted this was hindering access to communications as well as development in the country. Nonetheless, he said this is not to be blamed on the government alone, as the private sector was also responsible for bringing down costs.
He noted that ICT policy, which will overhaul the country's existing ICT legislation, is now at the green paper stage and will see significant progress by the end of the year. He added that the department will invite consultations on the policy.
The other outstanding issue he touched on was the National Broadband Policy, which he hopes will be presented in the last Cabinet meeting in the first week of December. He noted that if the policy is not approved, the department will consider releasing a version of it to the public for further consideration.
The minister explained that the policy largely gives expression to the National Development Plan's ICT vision, which aims to use universal broadband to aid economic growth and job creation. "We are targeting 100% broadband penetration by 2020," said Carrim.
On the other hand, he said, as SA becomes more connected, new threats will emerge and the country needs to do more to protect its cyber space.
Concerning cyber security, Carrim said the department recently inaugurated the National Cyber Security Advisory Council (NCAC), to advise government on cyber security policy and technical issues. Cabinet passed the National Cyber Security Policy Framework in March 2012, in terms of which the NCAC was established.
He also revealed that the DOC aims to have a clear picture of what spectrum is available when the second phase of an audit is wrapped up by the end of the year.
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