The country's digital migration policy remains bogged down in Cabinet, almost a month after allegations and denials of a turf war between the two new communications ministries surfaced, and there is no official words on when the strategy could actually be finalised.
While politicians hope to gain some clarity regarding the policy's progress at a portfolio committee briefing next week, much confusion still surrounds the process - with no explanation coming from the president's office.
Telecommunications and postal services minister Siyabonga Cwele had earlier stated the policy - which would finally give the green light for the country to switch over to digital broadcasting - would be finalised by the end of July. However, the policy was never gazetted and remains with Cabinet, amid speculation that the hold-up was the result of a "tuft war" between Cwele and communications minister Faith Muthambi, and the latter's objection that she was not consulted on the final migration plan.
The situation gave rise to speculation of a power struggle between the ministries - which came into existence when Jacob Zuma split the former Department of Communications - and questions arose about which department would have jurisdiction over key issues, such as broadcast digital migration.
While both the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) and the Department of Communications denied any knowledge of a turf war or power struggle in respect to one another, confusion around jurisdiction was not cleared up and still remains.
Waiting for Zuma
Marian Shinn, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of telecommunications and postal services, says it is still not known which department should ultimately take responsibility for driving broadcast digital migration. "Last month [following the turf war allegations], I wrote a letter to president Jacob Zuma, asking for clarity on this issue. But since then, we have heard nothing."
Shinn says she remains hopeful that some explanation will emanate from a DTPS briefing in Parliament on 19 September, at which Cwele is expected to be present.
"At this stage, no one can move. Digital migration progress seems to have stalled around the issues of set-top boxes and government's ambitions to create an environment that would see new entrants emerge in the set-top box manufacturing space," says Shinn, adding these considerations should now be set aside, for the sake of expediency.
"We are focusing on a small political imperative, but the bigger picture is not there - in other words, freeing up the South African Internet." Shinn says government's current focus is misguided and existing manufacturers, such as Altech UEC, should be used to deliver set-top boxes for the launch of digital broadcasting.
"But even in that scenario, we are running out of time. Even if government decides to use existing manufacturers, boxes need to be installed, people need to be trained to do this and subsidised boxes need to be allocated. This is a huge process."
Deadline looms
Cwele previously stated there is not much time left for SA to complete the switchover and said the country could not afford to miss the June 2015 International Telecommunication Union deadline. However, it almost certain now that - with less than eight months to go - the deadline will not be met.
"As part of the international community, SA's reputation is at stake, and the country would remain backward and not become part of the information society if digital migration does not happen," Cwele said.
However, Cwele's spokesperson, Siya Qoza, could not shed any light on the broadcast digital migration policy yesterday, and could only confirm it was still with Cabinet. Qoza could not say how long it would take before the policy is finalised, but said that once it is done, Cwele would be engaged on how to achieve the policy's implementation.
Muthambi's office could not comment this morning, as the minister is currently on a visit to China.
Share