The Communication Workers Union (CWU) wants to have a more direct influence on the amendment of the Electronic Communications (EC) Act, and has asked the Department of Communications to allow it "strategic engagement".
The EC Act amendments were originally suggested during the public hearings into the Infraco Bill, which was passed in the National Assembly last week.
The EC Act Amendment Bill was published in the Government Gazette on 17 September, allowing the public 30 working days in which to submit comment.
In a letter to communications department project manager of communications policy Mashila Matlala, the CWU argues that government should own telecommunications infrastructure so that it can use it to meet development goals.
"It`s our long-held view that the state must play a maximum role in service delivery and in the usage of the information and communications technology tools and infrastructure," the letter says.
CWU head of communications Mfanafuthi Sithebe says the union wants to have more input into the EC Act Amendment Bill over and above the written submissions, as requested by the Government Gazette.
He would not explain what provisions the union would like to see added beyond those already in the EC Act Amendment Bill. However, he argues that the CWU is entitled to this strategic engagement because it is a Cosatu affiliate and Cosatu is an ally of the ANC-led government.
The CWU was disappointed in the manner in which the EC Act was initially drafted, he says. "There should have been more consultation with the CWU, as the ruling party is in alliance with Cosatu, and we are a Cosatu alliance," he explains.
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