Eskom Centre, 2-4 February 2001
Honourable Minister
Honourable Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications
International Guests
Honourable Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Standing here today and seeing a lot of familiar faces one can't help but feel a sense of dejavu. It feels as if one has been transported back in time to the days when the air palpitated with both excitement and tension as diverse parties grappled with the enormous task of formulating telecommunications policies for the country. Let me extend a warm welcome to everyone.
I am sure you will agree that the past decade has been revolutionary in more ways than one. The transformation that has permeated the various facets of policy formulation in the country is arguably unmatched and this is especially so in the telecommunications sector. If one looks at the myriad of black faces evident in this audience today one would be loath to believe that fifteen years ago such faces would have been all but invisible. This is mainly because their participation in this sector was almost non-existent. But then again if one reflects further, debate around telecommunications policy issues in this country in general was basically non-existent across the spectrum pre 90's. All this has undergone a dramatic change of cause.
For one to appreciate the radical nature of transformation in this sector one needs to be taken on a brief historical tour of the past decade. I am thus volunteering my services as the tour guide who will take you through the sights.
The history of policy development initiatives in this country is quite unique in the sense that it was not government led but rather driven by non- governmental organisations championed by the African National Congress (ANC). The 90's could be said to have represented the era of mobilisation of the marginalised to be part of the policy decision-making efforts. This was evidenced by the proliferation of forums and organisations that reared up and participated in telecommunications policy debates.
One of the organisations, which were to play a key role, was the Centre for Development of Information and Technology Policy (CDITP) formed in 1991. The CDITP had on its board people such as Moeletsi Mbeki, Kgabitsi Mosunkuthu, Aki Stavrou, Lyndall Shope - Mafole, Sebeletso Mokone - Matabane and myself. This organisation worked together with the University of Witswatersrand Communications Department on research and advocacy programmes in ICT policy.
This body also conducted extensive seminars on policy and regulatory issues and also engaged interested stakeholders through the production of a Journal called Teleconverse. The latter publication served as a further tool of nurturing a vibrant debate and discussion environment and also facilitated knowledge sharing. The organisation also launched an aggressive recruitment campaign since it wanted to be as inclusive as possible. It managed to secure a lot of support from the active black organisation and forums.
This organisation was instrumental in the formation of the National Telecommunications Forum (NTF) Launched in 1992. The establishment constituted a huge step as far as policy developments and the consultation process were concerned. For the first time the diverse stakeholders who had been clamouring for change, were able to engage in intensive debate in an inclusive forum. The consultation process was widened to encompass labour, business, government, non-governmental organisations, user groups and so forth. What is interesting to note is the fact that the then Post Master General (PMG) refused to participate in these activities.
The NTF organised its work into eight working groups that is
The inputs that were made through this process formed the recommendations that the NTF made to the new dispensation once it started its consultation process for the formulation of a new telecommunications policy environment. These recommendations were to form the basis for the Green Paper for Telecommunications, which was finalised in 1995.
The consultation process was a very long and involved one.As government we seek to maintain this culture of inclusivity and transparency. Today's gathering, is in a sense, a mirror image of yesteryear as we have assembled to discuss and make inputs into the policy process just as we did eight years ago. In 1995 a national colloquium was convened at the Mount Grace in Magaliesburg with the express purpose of soliciting stakeholder participation and responses to the questions posited in the Green Paper document that had come out earlier in the year. This Colloquium resolved several broad policy issues that led to the 1996 Telecommunications Act.
The debates, as some of my colleagues here will attest, were often very heated and in the end a lot of compromises had to be made so that the eventual product could accommodate the diverse views and also create a sense of ownership.
Managed Liberalisation era
We are now entering a new phase of telecommunications reform characterised by a managed liberalisation and are confronted with new challenges. Government is fully cognisant of the fact that it has to chart a new course in order to ensure that the country is not only abreast but can compete on an even keel. We are an emerging economy trying to be part of the global economy and in order to ensure that we are not submerged in the globalisation scramble we have to be prepared.
Creation of a predictable policy environment is one way of ensuring that we do not only stay afloat but swim towards our destination. Inclusion and empowerment of the marginalised is again another option we dare not veer away from if we are to survive. Investment in the development of a skilled human resource work pool is another must for us. Regional co-operation and integration is another yes for us. All these factors require public / private partnerships to be realised.
To prepare for the era of managed liberalisation we have to ensure that the policies we implement are policies that accommodate not only the competitive environment but also the technological advancements and development issues that constitute the driving force behind globalisation.
In conclusion, let me again extend a hearty welcome to everyone and express the hope that the next two days will be characterised by constructive debate on the issues that are of national interest.
Let me take this opportunity to now ask the Minister to officially open this colloquium.
Thank you.