Hon Chairperson, Cope will not support this Budget Vote. We realise that the National Planning Commission and the hon Manuel recognised the strategic role of an effective Communications department and how it could fulfil this role in order to leverage job creation and support a knowledge economy in the country. However, and unfortunately, the Department of Communications under Minister Pule has become the single largest stumbling block in the roll-out of cheaper and faster broadband in South Africa, and affordable communication tariffs.
The department has imploded. It is tied up in legal battles, internal strife and disciplinary processes, and this budget that will be voted through today will be used to continue those battles.
Apart from policy revision, workshops, colloquiums, indabas, other talk shops and of course participation in controversially funded international conferences such as the Information and Communication Technology Conference held here last year in June, it has no measurable output. Its impact as an enabler of telecommunications roll-out is zero. In fact, the industry has to either fight it in court or to work around the Department of Communications to roll out infrastructure to offer services and to introduce the latest technologies in South Africa. State-owned entities reporting to the Department of Communications are equally in a shambles, mostly as a result of the Minister's political meddling in their functions and their affairs.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, Icasa's, failure to free up spectrum for broadband roll-out remains and paralyses it due to the Minister's failure to conclude the spectrum policy.
The SA Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, has its third board of directors in as many years. The Minister was acutely aware of serious governance transgressions committed by the former chairperson Dr Ngubane and his board, but was too scared to intervene and to correct this. The ongoing tug of war about who was going to make the most money from set-top boxes remains ongoing.
Cope will not support this Budget Vote. Thank you. [Time expired.]