The fundamentals of our budget are interlinked to the political economy, the bread and butter issues, the essence and nerve centre of service delivery, said the Minister of Communications, Ms Ayanda Dlodlo. “Our budget impacts directly and indirectly on the quality of life of our society, our citizens and we seek to allocate the most valuable and scarce resource of a country to the ever-increasing demands and needs of our people.”
Communication is a game changer, she said. “The Department of Communications (DoC) plays a pivotal role in a sector that has asserted itself in modern days as a game changer that is fundamentally transforming human life. There cannot be a dispute that information and communications technology (ICTs) has become a life-line service that changes lives of people.
She said South Africa could choose to be either a critical role player or play a passive role in the global technological development. “South Africa as a country has a choice either to be a significant player in the global technological development or be the recipient and consumer that tails behind innovation,” she said.
If it chooses the latter, our country could be left vulnerable. It might be too late to position ourselves as leaders. However, there is scope to be a meaningful player. Not to assert ourselves in the innovation and development engine room will render us vulnerable to global economic and technological advances,” she said.
The minister stipulated the allocations of her department’s R1bn budget allocation which is meant to accelerate universal access to communication. “In the current financial year, the department’s Administration will be allocated R100m; Government Communication and information System (GCIS) R404m; Brand South Africa R194m; Film and Publication Board R91million; Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) R430m; Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) R30m and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) R173m.”
The emergence of “fake news” has necessitated government’s coordinated national strategy, said the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications, Mr Humphrey Maxegwana. “While national dialogue is harnessed through diverse debates, it is important that government is able to communicate with one voice and in a coordinated fashion. The budget constraints have brought their own set of challenges to the legislative mandate of the department. Due to this, the department has been struggling to operate independently of the GCIS, posing serious risks to its smooth running and to its capability to meet its legislative mandate,” he said.
“Most of all, the ongoing wrangle about set-top boxes, which have delayed the country’s migration to digital television technology, has rendered our television landscape redundant and has now been overtaken by the emergence of televisions with internal digital transmitters,” he said.
“It is of outmost interest to rid the culture of unnecessary pay-outs and ensure that the SABC is financially viable. Over the last 10 years the SABC has paid more than R40m in pay-outs to chief executive officers and other senior staff members and this cannot be business as usual,” he said.
“The biggest problem that the department is faced with is the SABC, but we are pleased by the determination shown by its current acting board members. But its wheels seem to be turning slowly,” said Ms Phumzile van Damme. “We are pleased that the interim board is steadfastly implementing the recommendations of the SABC Inquiry Report. It is our worry, however, that the interim board appears to be moving rather slowly in instituting disciplinary proceedings against staff implicated in the causing the rot at the SABC,” she said.
Much oversight is needed at the SABC because there are claims that the music lists at various SABC radio stations are not chosen on merit, but are influenced by the highest bidder. “I have had complaints from musicians that ‘payola’ is still very much in existence at SABC radio stations. Music played on the public broadcaster’s radio stations should be chosen on merit, not based on who has the biggest bribe,” she said.
“In principle, we support the focus on the transformation of the print media, but we suggest that the department should look beyond the mainstream media and take cognisance of the potential impact of print media at community level,” said Prof Nhlanhlakayise Khubisa.
By Abel Mputing
29 May 2017
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