The distribution plan for the five million free cellular SIM cards should be finalised by the end of May, says Department of Communications deputy director Phakamile Pangwana.
Pangwana, addressing the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications yesterday, was responding to a question by member of Parliament Dene Smuts (DA).
Smuts noted: "The issue of the free SIM cards was announced two years ago and I am very concerned that we have heard nothing since."
She was referring to former Department of Communications director-general Andile Ngcaba`s statement in Parliament two years ago that cellular operators Vodacom and MTN would make the SIM cards available, as part of a deal that would allow them access to the 1 800MHz frequency.
Pangwana, who will move to Vodacom at the end of May, said yesterday that the Independent Communications Authority of SA had issued the licences to Vodacom and MTN in November, provided they formulated a distribution plan within three months.
"However, they were unable to do this as it is government`s job to determine where these SIM cards and the 250 000 cellular phones should be deployed," he said.
The original intention was for the cellular phones to be sent to the emergency services, mainly the SA Police Service (SAPS), but Pangwana said this was not possible and SAPS, in particular, was not able to take up the offer.
"The distribution of the SIM cards and phones to beneficiaries has proven to be particularly tricky. We have examined a number of possibilities, such as community social officers and health workers. There is also the question that if people who deserve the SIM cards and phones are located in an area where there is no cellular coverage, then the network operators have to erect a base station," he said.
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