Voorsitter, die VF Plus is bekommerd oor die gebrek aan vordering in hierdie departement. Velerlei gebreke in die departement is besig om die land se ekonomie te ondermyn. In die eerste plek wag die land gespanne om te verneem wanneer selfoon- en brebandtariewe substantief gaan verlaag. Ons erken daar is nou beweging in hierdie verband, maar dit is alreeds laat in die dag, en dit neem al jare om te verlaag. Die gehalte van selfoonseine is ook sigbaar besig om te verswak, en dit is duidelik dat die selfoonstelsels nie die volumes in die land kan dra nie. Die gehalte is daarom daar ook besig om te verlaag. Dit is in belang van ons ekonomie dat die swak diens aangespreek word.
Tweedens is ons bekommerd oor die stilswye van die Minister oor 'n selfoonoperateur in Suid-Afrika wat blykbaar op 'n onwettige wyse 'n lisensie in Iran bekom het en sodoende internasionale reg waaraan hierdie regering verbonde is, verbreek het. Die feit dat hooggeplaastes in die ANC in die bestuur van MTN dien of gedien het, skep baie vraagtekens. Een of ander tyd sal die regering hieroor verslag moet doen. Die VF Plus sal daarom nie die begrotingspos ondersteun nie. Dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans speech follows.)
[Adv A D ALBERTS: Chairperson, the FF Plus is worried about the lack of progress in this department. All kinds of failings in the department are undermining the country's economy. In the first place, the country is waiting on tenterhooks to hear when cell phone and broadband tariffs are going to be lowered substantially. We acknowledge that there is now some movement in this regard, but it is late in the day by now and it has already taken years for it to be lowered. The quality of cell phone signals is also deteriorating noticeably, and it is clear that the cell phone systems are unable to carry the volumes in the country. That is why the quality is deteriorating. In the interest of our economy, this poor service must be addressed.
Secondly, we are uneasy about the Minister's silence regarding a cell phone operator in South Africa who apparently in an illegal manner obtained a licence in Iran, thereby contravening international laws to which this government is committed. The fact that high-ranking ANC officials are serving or have served on the board of MTN has created a lot of questions. At some point the government will have to give an account of this. The FF Plus will therefore not support this Vote. Thank you.]