House Chair, let's point out that the process of amalgamating the two departments and the streamlining of its system is slower and turns to hold back process in the department. This resulted in the inability of the department and its ability to play its shareholder role in the state-owned enterprises, SOEs.
This is evident in the following points that we have made in the committee itself. Firstly, the department is indecisive on the SABC and it seems to be communication
desk of Treasury because it has failed to protect the broadcast from Treasury's delay to capitalise it resulting in poor workers not being paid at the SOEs.
The department is failing to recognise the industry consensus that the digital migration is the SABC's life line and the only way the SOEs can regain market dominance against the corrupt MultiChoice which survives through bribes.
Instead of implementing migration, the department is hiding behind plans and more plans while R182 million is wasted in storing unused set-top boxes.
On the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, Icasa, since the data must fall public enquiry three years ago, the cost of data has remained unaffordable for ordinary South Africans. The Icasa is failing to whip mobile operators into line. Instead of the department and Icasa pressurising operators to lower cost and make SMS free, they have allowed them to hide behind the lucrative spectrum which stand to benefit individuals.
We endorse the rollout of spectrum, but it cannot be used as a scapegoat by greedy mobile operators who are simply refusing to reduce the cost of data.
The Icasa has a mandate to enforce the license requirement on operators to provide free internet to 1 500 schools. Instead of enforcing this requirement, Icasa connive with the operators to reduce the number from 5 000 to 1 500 schools per service provider.
The department has allowed Treasury to influence the separation and selling of assets which they call unaffordable. The selling these assets of the SABC is unsustainable and will further disadvantage the organisation. For that reason, we cannot support the report. Thank you very much.