Chairperson, Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members, guests, friends and comrades, indeed, communication will continue to play a major role in deepening our democracy, promoting a culture of human rights and as a key pillar in the transformation of our country.
We are aware that the media and communications are contested terrains. Therefore, it is by no means neutral as it reflects the ideological battles and power relations based on race, class and gender in society. Indeed, as a committee in this fourth Parliament, we should be able to assess the progress made in the third Parliament to make sure that we are moving in strengthening ourselves in order to exercise our oversight role.
During the third Parliament, a commission, led by Professor Kader Asmal, was commissioned to deal with Chapter 9 and associated institutions. The issue of funding of an Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, Icasa, was high on that agenda. I think it's time, hon Minister, to focus on Icasa's funding model so that it can be able to execute its duties.
I'm told that Icasa is collecting more than a billion per annum, but its budget doesn't even make half of a billion. Now, one can agree with Icasa's chairperson when he says they are navigating in a sea infested with sharks, which are ready to bite them, because they don't have the leverage of finances to take on the core challenges of the industry. I think it will be important that, as a committee and the department, we make sure that Icasa is properly funded.
Presently, Icasa accounts to the committee only twice, that is, at the beginning of the budget, and later on when they present their annual report. In our view, it is not sufficient, because more often than not we are following problems which have already occurred. We need to make sure that Icasa comes to the committee more frequently so as to identify and deal with issues early.
One other issue which has already been highlighted is the evaluation and performance of the councillors of Icasa. I think the hon Minister and the department should assist in ensuring that the process kicks off in order to be able to evaluate the councillors. I'm raising this matter because it has been noted that they spend much of their budget to seek advice from outside. Therefore, that contributes to the fact that the issue of skills might come into play - I don't know, but what I'm saying is that we must make sure that their performance is evaluated in order to assist them with regard to their weaknesses.
I'm not aware of the issue which has been raised relating to Icasa being pressurised to submit to political pressure. When Icasa came before the portfolio committee, which I'm serving on, its chairperson indicated that there was no political pressure and denied the alleged pressure from Cosatu. The public broadcaster plays a crucial role in shaping opinions and building society values, including the moral fibre of our society, socioeconomic transformation and building a united, patriotic nation. Furthermore, the crucial role of the public broadcaster, particularly SABC Africa, in promoting our vision regarding the African Renaissance, African union, and Nepad, is very large. It is based on this understanding that the 52nd national conference of the African National Congress did not discuss the issue of the SABC Board, but its funding, because we believed that was a critical matter.
In that conference it was decided that we need to make sure that, at least by 2010, we would be able to fund the SABC with 60%, vis--vis the current 2%. That is what the conference was preoccupied with; not the issue of the board, because that is solely left to the portfolio committee in Parliament.
An issue often raised in public discourse is the issue of the utilisation of the labour broadcast. It has come to our attention that one of the state entities, namely the Post Office, is to a certain extent engaged in these activities. We, therefore, request the Post Office to come before the committee, especially its human resources section, to take us through their engagement in the labour broadcast, because we believe that they cannot abdicate their responsibility of employing and standing for the rights of the poor workers. Hindsight will not be applicable to the Post Office, but all public entities reporting to this committee must be able to contribute on this matter if they engage in this practice.
The Deputy Minister has already alluded to the e-rate issue, but there is a policy matter, hon Minister, which needs to be dealt with. There are schools that cannot afford the 50% discount for the Internet. We think that should be discussed to make sure that those schools declared as no-fee schools should be able to get free access to the Internet in order to link with broader society by using the Universal Service Agency Funds which are available. [Applause.]
Regarding the issue of Sentech and Infraco, it is the view of this committee that from the inception of Infraco it should be relocated to the Department of Communications. We will appeal to the Minister to make sure that part of the ongoing restructuring process involves relocating Infraco to the Department of Communications, as the committee anticipates.
I would also like to raise the issue of the Presidential National Commission PNC. This structure has become another structure within the Department of Communications. We therefore appeal to the Minister to relook this, so that, as the restructuring process is progressing in the Presidency and other departments we can see where this structure needs to be placed. If necessary, it can be relocated to the Presidency, in our view; but if not, it would be the honourable thing to dissolve this structure, because now we have created another bureaucracy within the Department of Communications itself.
I don't understand why ANC members are to be blamed in the Department of Communications. The last time I checked, there were also members of Cope, the FF Plus, the DA, and so forth. They should also have to explain why there is a mess in the department and what their contribution was. It cannot be the ANC only which has to be blamed when they also have members in the department.
In conclusion, as I've indicated in my introduction, we don't want to take a defensive stance as members of the ANC in the committee, we want to enable ourselves to review the laws we have passed; and plan on how to capacitate ourselves as a committee to exercise effective oversight. The ANC undoubtedly supports the Budget Vote. [Applause.]