PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO: 352
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 8 March 2013
QUESTION PAPER NO: 6
DATE OF REPLY:
Ms MR Shinn (DA) to ask the Minister of Communications:
(a) On what dates has the task team of the June 2012 ICT Indaba met, (b)
who sits on this team, (c) which resolutions of the ICT Indaba of June 2012
has the task team implemented or is in the process of implementing and (d)
what are the details of the progress to date?
NW499E
REPLY:
a) The Department has established an Inter-Branch Committee and the
National SOE Forum which deals with the implementation of National ICT
Programmes which includes the outcomes of the ICT Indaba and other
national commitments made at other international forums. These meetings
are held on a monthly and ad-hoc basis. These structures are also
supported by the ICT Industry Forum which developed several proposals
for the implementation of vision 2020. The New National ICT Forum will
once launched take forward many of these issues contained in the
Ministerial Declaration.
(b) The Inter-Branch Committee is attended by representatives from
different branches in the Department who are responsible for the
implementation of programmes and commitments of the Department taken
from different forums which have implications for the roll out of ICT
interventions at the three spheres of Government.
The National SOE Forum is attended by the Chairpersons and Chief
Executive Officers of the ICT Sector as well as SOEs falling under the
Department of Communications. The Department also planned to host an
ICT high level panel composed of representatives from other African
countries. However, due to the ongoing investigations and limited
budget, the high level expert panel meeting has not been convened thus
far.
c) Access to broadband communication as a basic human right.
The Department has developed a National Broadband Policy, Strategy
and Plan, and is consulting further on it. It is hoped that it would be
processed through Cabinet by the end of November 2013.
Closing the Skills gap in consultation with other stakeholders.
The Department has taken a decision to focus on up-scaling ICT skills
production in the country through collaboration with universities and
FET colleges. A process is underway to amalgamate the National
Electronics and Multimedia Institute of South Africa (NEMISA),
Institute of Satellite Applications and the e-Skills Institute into a
single Institute that responds to ICT skills in the country including
technology and multimedia studies, as well as satellite applications
skills for the knowledge economy. The New Institute will focus on ICT
skills development particularly for previously disadvantaged groups
such as, youth, women and people with disabilities. The New Institute
will also ensure a better and more holistic response to the ICT skills
challenges in the country.
The Department has also partnered with the Department of Basic
Education to ensure that ICTs forms part of learner curricula. The
collaboration has successfully developed school connectivity programmes
and a number of schools have already been connected particularly in
rural areas.
Establishment of ICT Indaba Secretariat comprised of multi-stakeholder
participation
The Department is currently in a process of establishing a National
Secretariat comprising of representatives from all provinces. A
consultative process will commence soon as part of the build-up to the
hosting of a high level expert meeting to be convened in early 2014.
(d) Progress has been hampered in some areas due to lack of capacity
within the Department. This challenge will be overcome by appointing
staff in key positions of the organogram.