Date: 20/04/2010

Source: Department of Communications

Title: SA: Nyanda: Budget vote speech by the Communications Minister, National Assembly

Honourable House Chairperson

Fellow Cabinet colleagues present

Honourable Members of the Portfolio Committee on Communications

Senior Officials of the Department of Communications

Captains of the ICT Industry

Members of the media

Distinguished guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

The Department of Communications' 2010 budget takes place against the
backdrop of a global recovery from a debilitating economic crisis, in which
once more the poorest nations have been severely affected. The impact of
this recession is most felt in the developing world where aid and investment
from the rich countries has shrunk considerably, resulting in job losses and
increased poverty.

South Africa like any other developing country has not been immune to the
effects of the recession. Given the commitments we made to the voters in
2009, we as government should not shy away from our responsibility to
deliver on the mandate they gave to us to ensure that their livelihoods are
improved.

It is therefore necessary to nurture, promote and establish private and
public partnerships as well as mobilise international assistance, civil
society, labour and academia participation.

Honourable Chairperson,

Our approach in building the developmental state can no longer be along the
same old ways. Our government has introduced a clear programme of action to
overcome our developmental challenges. In his 2010 state-of-the-nation
address President Jacob Zuma emphasized the need to create sustainable jobs,
to provide opportunities for the youth and to ensure rapid service delivery
for marginalized areas.

Esteemed Members,

ICT is a potentially transformative developmental tool, provided it is well
located within the overall policy framework and is not seen as an end in
itself, but a necessary means. It is the hump that feeds the camel.

ICT strategy should be determined by the reality of our people's needs.
These needs are among others, our human resource development, ICT growth and
competitiveness and the upliftment of the underdeveloped rural areas. Our
strategic objective is to encourage social access to technologies within a
people centered, development orientated paradigm. Our people should be
empowered to access information and knowledge to bring about social
transformation and cohesion.

Sustainable service delivery that impacts on communities require the
effective use and deployment of appropriate integrated ICT at all levels.
Building the developmental state without effective appropriation of ICT
across government, business and civil society will delay and hamper the
achievement of our developmental goals. ICT is a catalyst for service
delivery and the backbone of 21st century socio-economic development.

In 1995 our Government initiated the development of a South African
Information Technology Industry Strategy (SAITIS) project, which set out an
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Sector Strategy Development
Framework for South Africa. Its main objective being to quote: "the
bridging of the global development gap and the development of a robust,
growing and sustainable ICT sector that would directly support and
contribute to sustainable economic growth, social upliftment and
empowerment" unquote. The SAITIS estimates that the telecommunications
sectors contribution to GDP is more than 7%. It has therefore become
important for us to quantify business streams within the industry which
contribute to the current 7%; this will assist us to develop appropriate
policies that will add to the sector's contribution to the GDP.

The question that arises is: What are we doing to develop policies and
regulations that will stimulate further growth in the sector in order to
attract new investors and create more jobs?

Honourable Chairperson,

In the previous financial year we committed to develop and pass policies and
legislation aimed at further growing the ICT sector.

I am pleased to report that Cabinet has approved the Radio Frequency
Spectrum Policy. This policy provides for spectrum management, which
involves the allocation of frequency according to the country's
developmental needs and International standards. It will ensure efficient
radio frequency utilization and management of this scares national resource.
In addition, this policy will further contribute to economic growth by
promoting new services where required.

We have finalized the Broadband policy whose vision is to ensure that South
Africans have universal access and services to broadband by 2019. The
benefits accruing from the policy will include the provision of multimedia
and e-Government throughout the country. The implementation of the Broadband
policy will impact on the growth of the economy through expanding markets,
increasing business efficiency and promoting competition.

I have also submitted for the consideration of this House, the South African
Post Office (SAPO) Bill. The SAPO Bill seeks to establish a governance model
for the Post Office that will ensure greater transparency, accountability
and efficiency.

I am pleased to report that the Post Office managed to implement a business
model fashioned according to its market. It is looking into introducing two
other business units, one of them being to concentrate on compliance.

We can highlight some of its successes such as the roll out of 47 new post
office branches in the past financial year. Revenue increased to 6.3 billion
rands due mainly to the increases in revenue in the Post Office's mail and
financial services. This was because of expansion of addresses and value
added financial services. Moving forward the Post Offices is expected to
maintain the surplus it has been making for the past 4 years.

The Post Office has also been faced with challenges, including expanding its
footprint and bridging the digital divide. However, for the 2010/11
financial year the Post Office intends to focus on its financial
sustainability, diversification programme, rural and youth programmes and
achieving customer satisfaction. Its branch expansion programme will
continue with the addition of 20 new offices and relocation of 11 other
offices.

I wish to commend the Post Office for maintaining a good financial position.
However, we must strive to find a suitable funding model for the Post
Office, particularly because of the cuts to its subsidy, which it uses
mainly for its expansion programme so that we do not compromise its
universal service obligations. In the light of the fact that most of our
people are rurally based and do not have access to banking services, I would
urge the Post Office to accelerate its expansion programme including
allocation of physical addresses , as this has a direct impact on
connectivity and other services such as banking. This will additionally
improve the Post Office's market reach.

The Post Bank Bill, which is also before the House seeks to corporatise the
bank so that it exists as a separate independent legal entity. I wish to
stress that corporatisation should not be misunderstood to mean
privatization, or even that consideration of such is likely in the future.
The Post Bank will render transactional services and lending facilities
through, amongst others, existing infrastructure of the Post Office, and
develop into a bank of first choice, particularly to communities that have
little or no access to commercial banking services or facilities. The Post
Bank will also respond to local community banking needs which will minimize
travel costs.

Honourable Chairperson,

The Cyber security policy was gazetted in February 2010 for public comments.
The policy is being discussed with relevant stakeholders.

We intend in this parliamentary session to introduce legislation aimed at
further strengthening our ICT policy framework. We will therefore table the
following bills:-

§ ICASA Amendment Bill - aimed at further strengthening the governance
framework of the Regulator;

§ Public Service Broadcasting Bill - the bill seeks to align the public
broadcasting system to the developmental goals of the country, and to
provide an optimum funding model for the public broadcaster.

§ Electronic Communications Amendment Bill - the bill seeks to align
Ministerial directives, clear up ambiguity on some definitions and further
include the creation of strategic support structures such as the Tariff
Advisory Council, among others.

In addition, a policy directive will be issued to ICASA to conclude the
unbundling of the local loop.

We have commenced with the development of the Local Content Strategy.
However, this will be finalized once the South African Local Content
Advisory Council is appointed. The purpose of the strategy is to promote the
development of local content, as well as identification of niche economic
opportunities in the sector.

Honourable Chairperson,

I am happy to report to the house that our interventions have stabilized the
Public Broadcaster which was plagued by serious corporate governance and
financial challenges. In June 2009, I established a Ministerial Task Team to
investigate deeper the root causes which led to the collapse of corporate
governance and financial challenges at both the SABC and Sentech. The task
team concluded their assignment, and we are beginning to see the positive
effects of their recommendations.

As you will recall the SABC was hit by a liquidity crisis and organizational
instability. An Interim Board was appointed, which engaged with management
in putting in place mechanisms to ensure curtailment of expenditure and
revenue increment. The corporation was granted a R1, 4 billion government
guarantees, to enable it to borrow from private banks. A tripartite
monitoring team comprising officials from DOC, Treasury and the SABC has
been established to monitor the financial performance of the corporation,
and its adherence to the terms and conditions underpinning the government's
guarantee. We will ensure that the SABC does not do anything to trigger the
recall of the guarantee, and that the going concern status of the
corporation is not compromised.

Honorable Chairperson

A new board was appointed and continues to implement a turnaround strategy
which includes austerity measures to enhance revenue and reduce costs.

The corporation's radio sales unit achieved its sale targets and recorded an
11 % improvement in advertising. Going forward, the corporation must
implement the turnaround strategy. It must support delivery on the core
mandate. The corporation must focus on procuring local content over the
current MTEF.

I wish to thank the SABC for developing public viewing areas for the World
Cup, as this further contributes towards bringing broadcast services to our
people. I am sure that this will not only be a once off service, but that
access to quality broadcasting services will continue to be a top priority
for the SABC.

Honourable Chairperson,

I have appointed new board members and a Chairperson for Sentech. I believe
this will bring about greater purpose to the organization and allow it to
focus on the delivery of the mandate for which it was created. The process
to fill the position of the Chief Executive Officer is currently underway.

Sentech is a strategic state entity whose main function is that of the
signal carrier for the state. In the past financial year, Sentech continued
to maintain terrestrial analogue television and radio transmission at 99.9%
beyond customer service levels, which is the technical definition for
uninterrupted service provision.

For the 2010/11 financial year, Sentech will continue with the rollout of
the DTT infrastructure. Sentech is critical in the provision of digital
terrestrial television. Its target is to reach 60% population coverage by
the end of the financial year 2010/11. We will monitor the process of
implementation. Let me take this opportunity to thank Sentech and Telkom for
collaborating in providing the ICT infrastructure for the 2010 FIFA Soccer
World Cup.

Honourable Chairperson,

For the past five years, the cost to communicate and doing business in South
Africa has been impeded by exorbitant charges. In my maiden speech in 2009
I signaled my desire to bring down the cost to communicate. Today I am proud
to report that South Africa is well on its way to reducing cost to
communicate.

In November 2009, I issued a policy directive for ICASA to initiate a
process to reduce the mobile termination rate (MTR) down to cost.
Simultaneously, I engaged in process of consultation and discussion with the
mobile operators for them to voluntarily begin to reduce the MTR. This then
culminated in an agreement for an initial cut of the MTR from R1.25 to 89
cents with effect from 1 March 2010. In line with this, ICASA approved a
revised amended Interconnection agreement. Further, I wish to acknowledge
and recognise the commitment that the three mobiles operators exhibited by
voluntarily introducing much cheaper packages to cater for the needs of the
poorest during the December 2009 festive season. ICASA has now released
draft regulations aimed at ensuring cost based MTR rates in July 2010 on a
gliding scale. Telkom committed to pass-through the savings emanating from
the reduction in the MTR back to the consumer and this is already yielding
positive benefits to consumers.

Honourable Chairperson, let me take this opportunity to thank Cell C,
Vodacom, MTN and TELKOM for co-operating with both my department and the
Portfolio Committee on Communications and ICASA to bring down the cost to
communicate.

The next phase of cost cutting measures should involve the retail market
which supplies services directly to consumers. Lastly, Cabinet has adopted
the Departments Programmes of action on initiative to reduce cost to
communicate.

Honourable Chairperson

A stable regulatory regime is necessary for us to address key ICT
developmental challenges. ICASA will therefore need to focus critically on
the following:

· regulatory certainty,

· liberalization,

· promotion of ICT sector;

· aligning its structure, leadership and culture with the strategy
licensing for new services and

· Achieving universal service and access.

I would like to urge ICASA to accelerate finalization of all outstanding
regulations because that will have a positive bearing on the development of
the industry.

The Portfolio Committee on Communications has meanwhile called for
nominations for four (4) councillors including the Chairman of ICASA whose
term is coming to an end during the course of this year. I wish them well in
their future endeavors.

Honorable Members,

The department has over the past year reviewed and audited all existing
outstanding commitments related to spectrum license obligations. You will
recall that in 2004 and 2006, when spectrum licenses were granted to mobile
and fixed operators, specific universal service obligations were included.
My department has recently interacted with MTN, Vodacom, Cell C, Telkom and
Neotel to urge them to expedite delivery of on their commitments towards
commitments. The department has agreed with the operators to establish a
working team to pursue these obligations. ICASA, USAASA, National and
Provincial departments will be an integral part of this working group.

We reached an agreement with the mobile operators to avail 80,000 mobile
units by May 2010, which will be distributed to the Police, Safety and
Security agencies, and Emergency Officers who will be deployed at the
various FIFA 2010 stadia. Additional beneficiaries of the other obligations
will be identified in the course of the year. This is line with the
departments' contribution to government priority on ensuring safety for the
public.

As part of our broadcasting digital migration plan, I have recently
disbanded the Digital Dzonga due to potential conflict of interest that has
arisen with some of the Council members. Nominations are ongoing and names
will be made public soon. I wish to thank all former Council members for the
sterling contributions that they have made.

Honourable Chairperson,

The department successfully hosted the national summit on set top box
manufacturing, which involved industry players. We will conclude the
conformance scheme in the first quarter of this financial year. A draft roll
out plan for the Scheme for Ownership of set top boxes for poor television
owning household has been developed. The scheme provides poor people with
subsidies that allow them to procure the set top box.

Honorable Chairperson,

In my maiden budget vote speech I committed the Department of Communications
to work closely with key stakeholders to make ICT relevant to the people of
South Africa.

The Department has since developed a Stakeholder Engagement Programme that
seeks to institutionalize a structured programme of engagement with key
stakeholders.

In this regard, the DOC has identified various industry and business
associations that are critical to ensuring that it achieves its mandate of
creating a favorable ICT environment. We have created an ICT Industry Forum
and have since met twice. This initiative has been met with a lot of
enthusiasm by the sector, who regards interaction with DOC as key to the
advancement of their interest.

Honourable Members,

I am also of the opinion that government can use ICT to improve its
efficiency and streamline its operations. Therefore the development of a
coherent framework for the deployment and utilization of ICT in government
is critical. It is urgent that government adopts and uses ICT in order to
modernize services, improve administration and efficiency.

The roll out of effective ICT services will ensure that government services
are available to all South Africans equitably irrespective of where they are
in the country. South Africans will be able to see a single face of
government and be able to connect with all levels of government and
different departments using a single platform. ICT offers a possibility of
e-Government where government offers a seamless and integrated platform for
interaction.

When addressing rural development, ICT can also contribute to the scientific
interpretation of outputs in the agricultural sector, water management,
including numeracy and literacy training of communities. We are in
discussions with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to
ensure that we participate in the agrarian reform and food security
programme through technology intervention in our sector. This will also
contribute to our involvement in growing the second economy.

Honourable Chairperson,

The Department of Communications' main responsibility is ICT policy
initiation and development and to oversee the implementation thereof. My
department, unlike other line departments, does not have the physical
presence at Provincial and Local government levels to implement programmes.
We are dependent on partnerships and collaborative arrangements that involve
the private sector, all levels of the public sector and NGO's. The State
Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are the primary instruments through which the DOC
implements its programmes.

I have realized the need to ensure that SOEs develop strong governance
procedures and systems. As a result of this, we have amongst other things
strengthened the Shareholder Compact between the Minister and the Boards of
the SOEs. I am calling for greater institutional capacity building, more
effective utilization of the human resource capacity, better financial
management and more cohesiveness.

In order to ensure the sustainability of SOEs as part of my government's
arsenal to deliver on the Polokwane Resolutions and our election mandate, I
have requested the department to set up an effective monitoring system for
the SOEs that will address the objectives of providing effective and
efficient oversight of SOE's and other entities, and introduce performance
management system with the ICASA Councilors.

Honourable Members,

Since my appointment as Minister of Communications, I have been focusing on
improving the capacity of the department to deliver effectively, efficiently
and timeously. One of the first actions that I undertook was the appointment
of the Director General in October 2009 as a measure to bring in stability
within the organisation. We have been examining our organizational
capability with a view to improve performance and enhance the capacity of
the department to deliver on the ANC Government's mandate. During this
initial period we also had to exercise our authority to institute some
disciplinary measures on officials who have transgressed the provision of
the PFMA. Currently we have commissioned an organizational review that will
focus on systems, processes as well as human resources issues.

Honorable Chairperson and members,

South Africa is an integral part of Africa. At the level of ICT integration
of policy and systems we will create an environment that is economically
beneficial to all the continents' people. In that spirit we hosted the
African Union Communications and Information Technology meeting at
Ministerial level. The Oliver Tambo Declaration which was adopted at this
meeting calls for: the promotion of integration of African ICT policy and
systems, sharing of human resources, harmonization of ICT regulations within
the continent and sharing of infrastructure where possible, to address
accessibility and the cost to communicate.

This culminated in the Addis Ababa Declaration (2010) adopted by the AU
Heads of State and Government attended by our President Jacob Zuma. The
Summit re-enforced the principle of the Oliver Tambo Declaration (2009) and
took a further decision to develop an African Cyber-framework by 2012.

During this period we will seek to pursue the spirit of the Addis Ababa
Declaration and the NEPAD Principles of integration for the Sub Region. Of
particular importance for our country in this financial year will be the
finalization of the SADC home and away tariff regulations. This is aimed at
reducing roaming and cross border communications costs.

At the broader International level, the department will seek the strategic
placement of South African nationals in multinational organizations, and
continue to influence debates in these forums.

In May 2010 South Africa will participate in the World Telecommunications
Development Conference (WTDC). Our focus with regards to this conference
will be to enhance the deployment of technologies, advise on financing of
the telecommunications and low cost technology options as well as promoting
universal access to rural communities.

In October 2010 we will participate in the International Telecommunications
Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary in Mexico. We shall strive to ensure that South
Africa is globally positioned and that the needs for our developmental
agenda are highlighted for the next four years.

Our participation in the ITU is of critical importance. I therefore call
upon all ICT role players to actively participate and support the department
in all ITU activities.

Chairperson,

It is important that we realize that the challenges we face require us to
adopt policies that pursue African advancement and enhance international
cooperation.

Chairperson and Honourable Members of the House,

Last year I pronounced that my department will develop an Integrated ICT
Policy Framework which will seek to position ICT as a central enabler for
effective service delivery to transform the lives of our people. This
comprehensive policy framework will be able to move us towards a
people-centered and people driven, inclusive and sustainable digital
economy. This framework should also support our endeavors for full
convergence as we move towards an information society.

I wish to inform the House and the public that consultation towards
developing the comprehensive ICT policy framework has begun at various
levels. I will soon be making a preliminary discussion paper available to
the public for more compressive deliberations and inputs.

Chairperson,

We should recognize the critical importance of ICT as a major user of energy
and natural resources and as an enabler for environmental and cultural
change. We therefore have to do our best to ensure that technology systems
that we use to improve our lives do not have a negative effect on the
environment that our children and their offspring will inherit.

I therefore further wish to inform the House and the public that we will be
embarking on an ICT greening strategy to reduce the environmental impact of
our computer and electronic systems.

Honourable Chairperson,

The Deputy Minister of Communications would normally have been here to make
her complementary input to my budget speech. She is however stranded in
Paris as a result of the volcanic eruption in Iceland that has disrupted
international air traffic. She had been part of the Deputy President
delegation to Tunisia. I have adapted the inputs that the Deputy Minister
was going to make to this honorable house and I present them on her behalf
in the body of my budget vote speech.

The Deputy Minister sends her regards to this honorable house.

Honourable Chairperson,

The Constitution of the Republic makes provision for the right to freedom of
expression. This important right includes the freedom of the press and other
media, and the freedom to receive and impart information or ideas. As you
know, the majority of our people living in rural and semi-urban areas have
little or limited access to information, particularly print media and
digital data access.

Our challenge is to ensure that our people enjoy equal status, both social
and economic, which builds communities and empowers them to live a better
quality of life. Our national democratic transformation agenda is premised
on the ideals of achieving a national democratic society where our
communities have equal opportunity to reap the benefits of the modern
economy.

We have a responsibility to direct the means of delivering access to
information and communications with the bias towards the poor and the
marginalized section of our society.

Honourable chairperson and members,

Our democratic government has passed legislation and policy frameworks to
enable the enhancement and the delivery of online services. The Electronic
Communications and Transaction Act, provides for the provision of online
services and the creation of an e-Commerce environment that is secure and
authentic. This Act supports the provision of online services delivered via
the internet.

Chairperson,

We will continue to work with our sister Departments and stakeholders to
ensure the speedy automation of certain online government services for the
benefit of the citizens.

The automation of the online government service platform will not only
transform the relations between government and the citizens by ensuring
e-participation but will also improve business processes within the three
spheres of government and the private sector.

As a government we will continue to implement these policies and encourage
strategic investment in ICT backbone infrastructure in provinces and
municipalities, especially in rural areas. We will also work closely with
the Provincial and Local Government within the co-operative framework
espoused through the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act. In October
last year, I hosted the Intergovernmental Relations Forum which was attended
by MECs from the nine provinces of our country. The common challenge
expressed by most provinces is the unavailability of ICT infrastructure,
whilst others indicated that they have began their investments in
fibre-optic cable networks.

I must highlight however that there is a strong need to integrate our plans
to ensure interoperability and accessibility of these networks by individual
households. Our people must have maximum return from all these investments
that our government is making.

Honorable Chairperson and members

One of the strategic goals of the department is to accelerate socio-economic
development by increasing universal access to ICT services. The Department
has implemented various projects in pursuit of the goal of increasing the
uptake and usage of Information and communications technologies by
government and individuals in partnerships with business, civil society,
including labour.

In building of an information society we are guided by the principles of
people-centredness and inclusivity. I am glad to inform you that on the 26
of February 2010, we launched an Information Society Multi-stakeholder Forum
which is an Information Society Partnership for Development. This initiative
is aimed at bringing together all stakeholders in the implementation of our
National e-Strategy, the ISAD Plan, to bridge the digital divide. I was
excited to see the ICT industry, civil society and labour coming out in
support of this initiative. A number of proposals for collaboration have
been received by the Department and we hope that this will yield a positive
developmental impact in our society.

In the previous financial year, the Department developed an ICT Small and
Medium Enterprise Strategy which is centred on entrepreneurship principles.
The roll-out of this strategy will ensure the establishment of ICT Business
Incubation centres in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Kwa-Zulu provinces.

The broadcasting digital migration programme provides a unique opportunity
for SMME growth in our electronics manufacturing and content generation
subsectors. These opportunities should be shared by our most deprived
communities so that they too can enjoy the benefits of this digital
transition. The key focus must also be on developing and growing our
creative industry, which include broadcast content producers as intended
beneficiaries. This will further provide an opportunity for a meaningful
contribution towards GDP growth.

As we roll out the broadcasting digital program, the Department will run a
rigorous digital migration awareness campaign to teach and educate the
public about the importance and the benefits of going digital.

Honourable members

In an effort to digitize our cultural heritage content, the Department
launched the KZN digital repository at Stanger in September last year. The
documentary which was unveiled by the Department in collaboration with the
Ilembe District Municipality is but one of our success stories of ensuring
that heritage content is captured and preserved using youth. The Department
has also finalized the digitization and profiling the story of one struggle
intellectual, Mr. Thabo Mofutsanyane. The documentary will be launched
during the course of this year in a memorial event planned with the Free
State Provincial Government and the Thabo Mofutsanyane District
Municipality.

I have to mention that the majority of people who are implementing these
projects that I have mentioned are young and are trained in IT and business
development skills. The e-Cadre is a flagship project in which we train
young people in collaboration with Further Education Training (FET) colleges
and deploy them in various municipalities to perform community service. I
however wish to highlight that the 40 young people trained in Ekurhuleni
have not been placed due to lack of funding for this project in the previous
financial year.

Honourable members,

The strategic goal of ensuring universal access to services remains an
important component of the work of the Department and the Universal Service
and Access Agency of South Africa. USAASA has completed the project of
definitions for Universal Services and Universal Access which were published
in the Government Gazette in February 2010. The definitions set standards
for infrastructure roll out in underserviced areas. These definitions mark
the cornerstone and progress in facilitating the bridging of the
communications and infrastructure gaps that still exists in our country.

The national youth deployment strategy was developed in the first quarter of
2009. It is focused on developing ICT infrastructure and building access
centers. The key highlights for the previous financial year included the
establishment of 8 new community centers. Sixty eight schools have been
provided with 2720 computers. Subsidies for internet connectivity were
granted to 18 FET colleges.

In the next financial year the agency intends to establish a baseline
project to identify the number and geographical location of underserviced
areas. The agency will also built new digital hubs targeting rural
provinces.

Honourable Chairperson,

Another strategic goal of our government is to strengthen the skill and
human resource base in the ICT sector. Our human development is
characterized by a lack of employment - ready graduates required by our
modern economy especially in the field of ICT.

Following the reconstitution of the e-Skills Council by the department last
year, the work of the Council is on track with the National e-Skills Study
conducted and a report adopted by the Working Group. The final report is
ready for presentation to Cabinet.

The Department is in the process of operationalising the Meraka e-Skills
Institute as a measure to bridge this gap. In the previous financial year,
Meraka has formed partnerships with 6 international institutions and 12
local Universities and developed a curriculum which will assist universities
to produce an ICT skilled cadre ready for the job market.

Honourable Chairperson

The National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (Nemisa) was
established to provide education and training in production and technical
skills relevant to TV and radio broadcast industries. Over the next
financial year Nemisa will develop capacity to deliver high quality
educational services and train 870 learners.

Honourable Chairperson,

In pursuance of better health and education for all South Africans, our
department is cooperating with the departments of Health and Basic Education
for the development of a connectivity plan the implementation of which will
occur in the course of this financial year.

Once more I would like to call upon operators to work together with the
Department and ICASA to implement the e-rate dispensation for connectivity
to schools in terms of the Electronic Communications Act. It will be
important to note that we will need to consult with our affected sister
departments, for example Department of Health, Department of Basic
Education, Department of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs
about the latter.

Honourable Chairperson

The year 2010 marks the mid-term of the World Summit on Information Society.
In May this year, South Africa will join member countries of the United
Nations participating in the global assessment of the progress made in the
implementation of the Summit outcomes since their adoption in 2005.

Finally, I want to thank my Deputy Minister, Ms Dina Pule (in absentia), the
Director General Ms. Mamodupi Mohlala and all staff members of the
department for the hard work done. To the department, to them I say, we must
always remember our central theme: we should ensure that ICTs are used for
accelerated service delivery and empowerment. I thank the Portfolio
Committee on Communications members under the leadership of Mr. I. Vadi for
providing advice, wisdom and support, especially during my maiden period in
office.

I ask this house to approve budget vote 26 of the Department of
Communications.

Fellow South Africans,

My parting words in this historic year 2010, the Year of Action!

Let us show the world and confound our critics. South Africa can pull it
off, on and off the field.

For our part in the ICT sector, the ICT infrastructure for the 2010 FIFA
Soccer World Cup and the International Broadcasting Centre will be fully
operational before the official kick off date of 11 June 2010.

Mayi Hlome Bafana Bafana Ke Nako!

I thank you.