Issued by: Department of Post and Telecommunications
STATEMENT GIVEN BY JAY NAIDOO, MINISTER FOR POSTS, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND BROADCASTING AT THE LAUNCH OF THE DIGITAL ENHANCED CORDLESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS (DECT) NETWORK, KHAYELITSHA, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE
Saturday, May 23, 1998
Sizwe Nxasana, CEO of Telkom Joe Foster, chairperson of the National Council of Provinces Select Committee on Communications Motato Ngomane, community representative, Ladies and gentlemen,
Two weeks ago, I told the assembled members of the National Assembly during my Budget speech that this month, the people of Khayelitsha would have two good reasons to celebrate because two things were going to happen for the first time ever:
Khayelitsha was going to get its first direct telephone services and it was going to get its first street delivery of post.
Today marks the switch-on of the first direct telephone services and on Monday, I will be returning to Khayelitsha to celebrate the launch of the first street delivery of post.
Both these phones we will be switching on today and the street service I will inaugurate on Monday represent something more significant than new services. They represent an improvement in the quality of lives of people.
And improving the lives of our people is the goal which gives me the energy to keep going and keep fighting. It would be true to say that what the people of this community has been given in the past four years.
Not just in terms of post and telephones is more than they were given in 40 years of apartheid rule.
As Minister responsible for telecommunications, I have made sure that all our efforts are aimed not only at bringing South Africa as a country into the information age, but also at giving universal access to telecommunications services to thousands of communities..
As a result, South Africa has one of the fastest roll-out programmes in the world.
Over the next five years, 2,8 million new lines, including 120 000 payphones and 1,6 million new lines will be installed in our townships and our villages to bring telephone penetration in economically qualified households in all provinces to more than 50%.
Schools, clinics, libraries, community centers and small villages in under-serviced areas have been identified as priorities in our roll-out programme. According to our roll-out programme, 55% of these priority customers will be connected within three years and 80% of all villages within four years.
And I am happy to report today that the Western Cape is making good progress in meeting its share of these targets. Last year, a total of 76 000 new lines were installed (April 1997 to March 1998) against a total of 70 000 new lines installed the previous year.
Under-serviced areas were the main beneficiaries of Telkom's efforts to get people talking in the Western Cape. Of the 76 000 new lines installed, 33 000 were in under-serviced areas.
Of the 3 888 new pay phones installed, 3 305 were in under-serviced areas.
Significantly, the biggest growth in business connections was from companies and businesses in under-serviced areas, with some 18 000 new lines being installed.
Telkom in the Western Cape aims to installed 85 000 new lines this year and I believe they will not only meet their target, they will exceed it.
So why is getting a telephone service in a community like Khayelitsha an important milestone? Because information and knowledge is the guarantee of our freedom, the guarantee of openness, accessibility, accountability, and the vehicle for social transformation.
Thousands of people in places like Khayelitsha are being give n opportunities that never existed before. Now if you have a sick child, you will be able to call a doctor or the local clinic. If you are an entrepreneur, you can call your suppliers or your customers. If you have family who live or work far away, you ca n call them to say hello.
A telephone network makes it possible for government to introduce services such as distance learning and Tele-Medicine and the Internet to citizens in even the remotest corners of our country. And all at an affordable cost.
The power of knowledge and the power of communication are being built on the foundation of democracy. This government is committed to making the lives of our people better and today is clear evidence that it is succeeding in its quest.
Thank you.