Initial reaction to the final ICT empowerment charter document has been positive, but multinationals say further clarification is needed before they can take a stance.
The final document was released yesterday. One of the more welcome adjustments to the charter was the decision to scrap progressive scorecards, opting instead for a single 30% target by 2010.
Business Connexion group executive, Isaac Mophatlane, describes the lowering of the equity share as "a good gesture in a sense that it will hopefully reflect the true demographics of the country".
The industry as a whole should look at bringing in more black people to the workforce, ensuring better skills development and human resource, Mophatlane adds.
Dimension Data strategy director for Africa, Derek Wilcocks, says the company is still reviewing what he described as "a difficult document", saying it is more or less the same as the previous one.
Wilcocks adds that Dimension Data is "happy with the progress of the document so far, and that what they set out to do is to achieve the mid-term objectives of the proposed equity share by 2010, and the long-term objectives by 2015".
Providing a multinational`s perspective, Citrix Systems country manager for southern Africa, Chris Winter, says the charter appears to offer little change from its predecessors. Multinationals` requirements have yet to be outlined, says Winter, meaning they are unable to take any substantive stance at present.
"The charter seems to be moving on without addressing the multinational issue. To implement what they are suggesting at present would preclude multinationals from dealing with government."
Winter hastens to add that he views the charter as a positive initiative. "We understand why they need to do it and that change is a good thing, but this does not mean we have bought into it. We are taking it seriously though.
"We need clarification. We can`t take a stance because there`s nothing to take a stance on at the moment. We need a finite plan. The government needs to listen with reason, rather than intent."
At yesterday`s charter announcement, working group chairman Dali Mpofu said they had not readdressed the multinational issue.
Mpofu added that the charter would be open to further input and possible alterations, a fact that Winter is optimistic about. "Change is essential. If there was no scope for alterations in the charter, it would be really bad," he says.
Related story:
ICT charter document released
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