Articles about Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies

MPs flag capacity constraints as ICASA readies renewals

Legislators question the authority’s capacity to handle licence renewals amid the parliamentary procedure for councillor interviews.

CompCom to investigate discontinuation of Showmax

The Competition Commission monitors compliance conditions related to Canal+’s acquisition of MultiChoice, including looking into the forthcoming shut down of Showmax.

ICASA council looks to fill four vacancies

Parliament’s portfolio committee invites nominations to fill vacancies on the council of the Independent Communications Authority of SA.

Comms ministry initiates governance reforms for entities

The department reveals structural reforms for its entities, to overcome historic governance challenges and create a formal framework to address governance crises.

Timeline for SA’s national AI policy revealed

Parliament is briefed on the process to develop SA’s AI policy, with stakeholder engagement and Cabinet gazetting in the pipeline.

Starlink crowdsources support to operate in SA

The low-Earth orbit satellite provider mobilises its SA database to pressure regulator ICASA into accepting alternative empowerment compliance.

Political pushback against Malatsi BEE leniency for Starlink entry

The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, the EFF and the ANC call for the immediate withdrawal of minister Solly Malatsi’s BEE policy direction.

Comms dept entities still to fill key roles amid governance crises

Despite assertions that governance woes in the communications ministry’s entities will be ironed out, majority still sit without executive leadership and a mountain of challenges.

Despite BEE, ICT sector hasn’t transformed, Parliament hears

The B-BBEE ICT Sector Council lifts the lid on the lack of transformation in the ICT sector, highlighting gaps in evaluating multinationals’ contribution to economic development.

School connectivity project ‘not anywhere near’ completion

Financial and infrastructure constraints hinder government’s school connectivity endeavours, as over 16 000 public schools remain offline, hears Parliament.

Comms dept to up govt workers’ digital literacy, AI fluency

The communications ministry sets out to improve the digital literacy skills of 30 000 public service employees during the 2025/26 financial year.

Comms minister, chairperson in spat over transformation laws

Minister Solly Malatsi says a claim that he is looking to appease business through new SITA regulations and equity equivalent programmes is devoid of truth.