House Chairperson, it's delightful to stand in a single Chamber today that is as it should be where all the old split-up departments of Communications and Telecommunications and Postal Services are here under one roof, debating as one. Even President Ramaphosa didn't wait for any sunrise, any new dawn or old before quickly joining the two departments back together again - if only in name and under a single Minister in the Fifth Parliament. We wish the same Minister success in the term ahead.
I'm also delighted to see the committee's positive recommendation of this departmental unification, albeit after the fact. Is there anyone in this House who thought splitting the two departments in the first place was a good idea? Put up your hands! Anyone? No? Not one? There we go! Because, what a monumental waste of effort, money and time that was - fruitless and wasteful indeed.
South Africa's telecommunications environment is arguably the most liberalised sector in the country. Yet, this sector which should be the freest isn't free. It should be creating thousands
more jobs, up-skilling more youngsters, growing technical careers, developing small business and contributing massively to the coffers of the state. Instead, it finds itself completely constrained by lack of spectrum. You can't see it, touch it or feel it, but spectrum is all around us. It's infinite and indescribably valuable -- billions upon billions of rands worth.
Now, there are companies that want to pay for and use this spectrum for mobile network development and rollout. Government is the custodian of this spectrum on behalf of the people of South Africa and are supposed to use the spectrum for the benefit of the people of South Africa. Yet, you have dragged your heels for more than five years in releasing the spectrum for term sale or lease.
Effectively, government imprisoned spectrum for purely political ends and I am sure that make spectrum a political prisoner. In fact, so determined was this government to keep this prisoner locked up that it took Icasa to court to ensure that it stayed that way.
Minister, if you are holding a sector to ransom by delaying the release of high demand spectrum, be fair and tell them what the ransom is. At least then they can consider buying their freedom. Let Icasa hold an auction now, pitch it high and use the revenue raised for other government priorities. But you can't continue to do nothing. It is like owning a house that you can rent out to generate revenue but then you don't and you leave billions uncollected year after year that could have been spent on health, education or housing for those who desperately need it. Please don't spend it on the