2024-w100 - 15 March 2024

Natasha Wendy Anita Mazzone to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

Whether, with reference to the SA Post Office Business Rescue Plan that was adopted in December 2023, he will furnish Mrs N W A Mazzone with (a) a list of branches that are due to close in each province and (b) the (i) total number and (ii) current positions of employees who will face retrenchment in each (aa) branch and (bb) province; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies on 15 Mar 2024

I have been advised by the South African Post Office (SAPO) as follows:-

a) list of branches that are due to close:

Gauteng (Most of Gauteng and Vaal Triangle)

17

Northern region (North Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West)

41

Western region (Western Cape, Northern Cape)

28

Eastern region (Eastern Cape) -

24

Central (Free State, North West)

104

KwaZulu-Natal (KwaZulu-Natal)

21

TOTAL

235

The ...

More »

2024-w322 - 15 March 2024

Ashor Nick Sarupen to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

(1)Whether, considering the participation of the delegation of the Republic in the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2024 that took place in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from 15 to 19 January 2024, her department bore the financial responsibility for the expenses of its representatives in terms of (a) accommodation, (b) air travel, (c) ground transportation and (d) any other ancillary expenses; if so, what are the relevant details in terms of the (i) total cost and (ii) breakdown thereof; if not, (2) whether the specified expenses were covered by funds received from the National Treasury; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies on 15 Mar 2024

I have been informed by the Department as follows:

1) Yes

(1)(i) Total cost R 1 893 441

(1)(ii) Cost breakdown:

 

Minister

Ministry Support Staff

Departmental Staff

(a)Accommodation

R 75 960

R 396 920

R 473 290

(b)Air Travel

R 85 927

R 75314

R 73 045

(c)Ground Transport

R 137 315

R 274 630

R 297 740

(d)Local Shuttles

R nil

R 1600 ...

More »

2024-w442 - 11 March 2024

Zandile Majozi to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

Apart from advocating for the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Amendment Bill [B28-2023], what practical and/or short-term measures has his department put in place to clamp down on subscriber identification module (SIM) card fraud?

Reply from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies on 11 Mar 2024

I was advised by ICASA as follows:

The Authority is mandated through section 68 of the Electronic Communications Act (“the ECA”) (Act No. 36 of 2005) as amended to regulate the numbering resources. However, the ECA does not empower the Authority to regulate SIM registration.

Noting the challenges experienced in the country wherein numbers are hijacked either through SIM swap fraud or number porting, ...

More »

2024-w279 - 11 March 2024

Tsholofelo Katlego Motshidi-Bodlani to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

(1)Whether he terminated the membership of six board members at the State Information Technology Agency SOC Ltd in July 2023, due to a disagreement relating to the remuneration increase awarded to a certain person (name and details furnished); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether he will furnish Ms T Bodlani with the salary grade of the specified person upon assumption of duties in April 2023 up to the departure of the person in December 2023; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW316E

Reply from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies on 11 Mar 2024

1. Five members of the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) SOC Ltd board resigned and two have been retained into the current board. The former representative of the Department of Public Service and Administration was recalled by their Minister. Only three board members were dismissed in July 2023. This followed the Cabinet guidance to reprimand them after they had violated the SITA Memorandum of ...

More »

2024-w103 - 11 March 2024

Tsholofelo Katlego Motshidi-Bodlani to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

With reference to his 2023-24 Budget Vote Speech, wherein he announced targets towards expanding Wi-Fi access across the Republic, what (a) total number of Wi-Fi hotspots have been connected by his department in the 2023-24 financial year in each (i) district and (ii) province, (b) is the rate of internet connectivity and (i) in each province and (ii) in the Republic as at 1 January 2024?

Reply from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies on 11 Mar 2024

I have been informed by the Department as follows:-a) 231

  1. See table below
  2. See table below

b) As of 1st January 2024, Broadband Infraco achieved 9 056 household connectivity and 231 community WiFi hotspots in various district municipalities as indicated below:

i) Province

ii) District Municipality

Total HH Connections

HH Connections Speeds Tested

Total WiFi Hotspot

HH Connections Speeds Tested

Eastern Cape

Joe ...

More »

2024-w70 - 06 March 2024

Denis Joseph to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

What temporary arrangements are in place to accommodate the Rocklands community where the Caravelle Post Office building in Mitchells Plain was closed due to a fire that led to the building being demolished; 2. Whether his department is in the process of finding a long-term solution; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW71E

Reply from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies on 6 Mar 2024

I have been informed by SAPO as follows:

1. At present customers are directed to the Grassy Park Post Office or Gatesville Post Office for financial and postal services. The delivery of mail to the Mitchells Plain community is provided by two mail delivery depots, namely, Mitchells Plain mail delivery depot and Strandfontein mail delivery depot daily.

2. SAPO has been informed by the ...

More »

2024-w102 - 06 March 2024

Natasha Wendy Anita Mazzone to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

Whether, with reference to the SA Post Office (SAPO) Business Rescue Plan which speaks of forging strategic partnerships with private sector entities to bolster capabilities and resources, as well as securing a strategic partner in the property company that can provide development capital and intellectual knowledge, SAPO has approached private sector entities to assist in its Business Rescue Plan; if not, what are the reasons the specified engagements with the private sector have not yet occurred; if so, what are the specific details of the discussions held with the private sector?

Reply from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies on 6 Mar 2024

I have been informed by the SAPO as follows:

Strategic partnerships are a fundamental pillar of the Business Rescue Plan. Various interested parties have submitted proposals which will be reviewed by an investment committee. This committee is currently being established.

In parallel, implementation plans are being developed enabling the Business Rescue Practitioners to strategically select partnerships which will be most beneficial to the objective ...

More »

2024-w101 - 06 March 2024

Natasha Wendy Anita Mazzone to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

Whether the National Treasury has approved the request for a R3,8 billion cash injection for the SA Post Office Business Rescue Plan, considering that the plan hinges on the approval of the cash injection; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW106E

Reply from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies on 6 Mar 2024

The National Treasury has not allocated any funding in the 2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) preliminary allocations of January 2024. However, it has committed to further engage with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) on the South African Post Office (SAPO) rescue plan as it forms the basis for the R3,8 billion funding requirement. These discussions have commenced and the outcome ...

More »

2024-w21 - 06 March 2024

Russel Nsikayezwe Cebekhulu to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

Whether he has given any consideration to positioning what is left of the SA Post Office’s (SAPO) postal network as contributors to the country’s e-commerce space, given that business rescue practitioners have stated that SAPO is in need of investment in technology, considering that his Department has consistently remained behind the Republic’s digital evolution curve and the burgeoning e-commerce space; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies on 6 Mar 2024

I have been informed by the SAPO as follows:

SAPO’s logistics strategy, currently in development, will initially stabilise parcel delivery and modernise this business segment over time. The strategy will also enhance the organisation’s logistics skills and management capabilities.

A specific focus of SAPO’s broader strategy is South Africa’s growing e-commerce market as outlined in the entity’s Business Rescue Plan (BRP) (sec 18.5.5.4.2.1, pg. ...

More »

2024-w104 - 21 February 2024

Tsholofelo Katlego Motshidi-Bodlani to ask the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies

1.With reference to various government departments which were recently interrupted by the system of the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) that was offline, what (a) were the reasons for the system interruptions at SITA and (b) plans have been put in place to address the specified interruptions; 2. Whether there is a risk of more frequent, more severe system interruptions at SITA this year; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies on 21 Feb 2024

I have been informed by the SITA as follows:

1. (a) The following are the key reasons for the system interruptions at SITA:

(i) A change in configuration resulted in blocked communication between systems. This resulted in service disruptions and as a consequence impacted email, internet, intranet, VPN and Applications to a key national department.

(ii) The SITA Core Network links are provided by ...

More »
Page 1 of 17 Next