Parliament, Saturday, 24 May 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies has invited Minister Solly Malatsi and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to brief the committee on the recently gazetted policy directions that appear to be in contravention of the Electronic Communications Act and in favour of low earth orbit satellite provider SpaceX, which will be providing broadband services.
On Friday, 23 May 2025, Minister Malatsi announced, through a media statement, the gazetting of the proposed policy direction to the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA) on Equity Equivalent Investment Programmes in the ICT sector.
Section 9 (2)(b) of the Electronic Communication Act 36 of 2005 provides the legislative framework for the application for and granting of individual licences in the ICT sector. It also mandates ICASA to regulate historically disadvantaged groups’ equity requirement at no less than 30%.
The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Khusela Sangoni Diko, will not be available for media interviews on this matter until the committee has expressed its view on it. Other details of the committee’s meeting with the minister and the department on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, will be confirmed as soon as possible.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, MS KHUSELA SANGONI DIKO.
For media inquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Justice Molafo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 424 7481
Email: jmolafo@parliament.gov.za
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