Madam Deputy Speaker, on behalf of Cope we would like to thank the Minister. We welcome this, and I am sure the South African consumers will cope with this early Christmas box. [Applause.] Cope wants to ensure that Chapter 9 institutions, such as Icasa, are supported to effectively fulfil their mandates. Cope believes that it is the role of the independent regulator, Icasa, not the Minister or the director-general or Parliament, to regulate tariffs and rates. Minister, we welcome the fact that you have intervened in the negotiations.
We just want to caution that we don't want political interference into the role and responsibilities of Chapter 9 institutions. Icasa councillors should execute their legislative responsibilities. If they fail to do that, it is our role to hold them accountable. The law stipulates that they can be dismissed and we should do that. But for that to happen, we need the Minister and the department to forthwith pass the necessary performance agreement with those Icasa councillors. If that is done, which should have been done some four years ago, then we can hold them accountable and get them to carry out their responsibilities.
It is a misnomer to believe that interconnection rates will necessarily result in cheaper cellphone costs. For that to happen, we must open up the market. Therefore, other long overdue regulations, such as fixed number portability regulations, local loop unbundling and all those issues, should be introduced. Only then will the cellphone industry really become liberalised and there will be proper competition within the cellphone and the communication industry as such.
In conclusion, government must not try to be the bride at every wedding ceremony or the corpse at every funeral. I thank you. [Applause.]