Thank you very much, House Chair,...
IsiXhosa:
... niqhuba nibuya umva okanye kwi...
English:
... traffic circle. South has already missed the International Telecommunication Union, ITU, committed deadline, Minister as you are aware. The question is: How do you intend to fast track this process? Another very critical issue to ask is that, South Africa has fallen behind the rest of the world regarding the assignment of the 5G spectrum as the Ministry has decided to assign the 4G spectrum before it assigns the 5G spectrum. The question that we want to ask you Minister which I think is pertinent, should the Minister not consider simultaneous assignment of both 4G and 5G spectrum. Another very critical question for you to answer Minister: Is foreign owned OMEs such as Huwaei, Erricson, ZTE and Nokia are increasing their value chain participation by providing full tacky services. This results to the exclusion and marginalisation of black SMMEs. What processes has the department put in place to monitor and ensure that big telecoms players such as MTN, Vodacom and Telkom remain accountable especially towards meeting their BEE participation in the industry value.
Another important question for you and an issue to consider Minister is that, phase one of SA Connect promised to provide
broadband services to over 6000 government facilities especially rural schools and clinics. What is the status of this project? When should we expect its completion?
I now want to come to the SABC, and to say in particular that...
IsiXhosa:
... uMphathiswa weSebe lezeziMali uyayithanda injezu, unesigqezu [Kwahlekwa].
English:
I want to quote the report of the Committee on Communications, which says, the report of the committee commends the SABC board and management for: "savings of R1 billion on the basis of a strategy implemented by the board to, firstly, increase revenue. Secondly, contain costs. Thirdly, resolve internal inefficiencies. The same report says, it commends the SABC a balanced coverage of the elections which has already been cited here and it goes further and says, for the improvement in TV licence collections fees. Is that not a turn around strategy. It
gives an indication that the institution is turning around and that is exactly what we discussed last year.
IsiXhosa:
Nithetha ukuthini ke ngoku xa nisithi akukho...
English:
... turn around strategy.
IsiXhosa:
Sanukudlala ipolitiki apha, la masela.
English:
The other issue which I think is of critical importance is that, what appears to be a political tug of war between the departmental government and the SABC is creating uncertainty for staff members at the SABC.
IsiXhosa:
Hayi nantso, nitsho.
English:
All of the issues that we have highlighted here I quoted them from the report of the Committee of Parliament and are issues that we certainly discussed in the portfolio committee last year. The management and the board committed to doing this issues, they have done them ...
IsiXhosa:
... bayaqhuba kancinci, anifuni ukubanika imali kuba nineengxaki zenu. Siyanixhasa, kodwa khawuzame sisi, siza kububuya.