Cabinet has approved the issue of a temporary mobile television broadcasting licence in order to meet the country's commitment during the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Themba Maseko, Cabinet spokesman, says communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda tabled the proposal before government's highest decision-making body yesterday.
“No details were given about who would be awarded the licence, or how much it would cost,” Maseko said in reply to questions.
According to the Cabinet statement, the licence will expire two weeks after the World Cup finals. “The issuing of a temporary licence will allow the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) the time and space to design a licensing process that will encourage greater competition in the sector,” Maseko says.
Several years ago, satellite television broadcaster MultiChoice began testing a mobile television broadcasting service, using national signal distributor Sentech's infrastructure.
Former communications minister, the late Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, indicated at the time that she would issue a policy direction to allow such services to be licensed in time for the World Cup. However, this has yet to happen.
Closer to home
Maseko says no specific costs were discussed. However, he adds home affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma had indicated she would need to have discussions with National Treasury with regard to costs.
“The Department of Home Affairs is seen as an essential department for running the country and the minister's interventions to transform the department have Cabinet's full support,” says Maseko.
These interventions include the launch of a national campaign to encourage citizens to apply for birth certificates and identity documents, the launch of an anti-corruption drive, and the introduction of severe penalties for those who sell identity books. Furthermore, these include the replacement of the old passports with new and more secure passports, and the extension of the track-and-trace system to all enabling documents for better security, management and improved service delivery.
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