PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO: 276
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 7 March 2014
QUESTION PAPER NO: 5
DATE OF REPLY:
Ms M R Shinn (DA) to ask the Minister of Communications:
(1) What is the total value of licence fees due to the Independent
Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) as at the end of
January 2013?
(2) (a) how many of these outstanding license fees are being
legally contested, (b) to what value, (c) by whom are they
legally contested and (d) why;
(3) (a) how many licence fees are overdue, (b) what are the names
of the licence holders and (c) what amount is owed to ICASA in
respect of overdue licence fees;
(4) How many licences were not renewed by the due date?
NW329E
REPLY:
I have been advised by ICASA as follows:-
1) R853 399 600
2) (a) Six (6)
|2(b) to what |2(c) by whom are they legally |2(d) why |
|value |contested | |
|R4 691 755.66 |Orbicom |Orbicom disputes the |
| | |fact that they own |
| | |the High Site which |
| | |they are operating on|
| | |and have alleged |
| | |that they are leasing|
| | |the equipment from |
| | |Sentech, however |
| | |despite having held |
| | |several meetings with|
| | |both parties, ICASA |
| | |is still awaiting a |
| | |written confirmation |
| | |from Sentech |
|R 18 160 000.00 |KALTRADE 470 (Pty) LTD |KALTRADE 470 (PTY) |
| | |LTD has been awarded |
| | |a spectrum license |
| | |but have since failed|
| | |to pay the required |
| | |license fees. ICASA |
| | |is to embark on a |
| | |process to collect |
| | |the outstanding |
| | |license fees. The |
| | |dispute arose as a |
| | |result of non-payment|
| | |of spectrum fees. |
|R 41 181 732.06 |Sentech |Sentech has to date |
| | |paid almost 80% of |
| | |the amount owed to |
| | |ICASA as the |
| | |settlement agreement.|
| | |ICASA has requested |
| | |National Treasury to |
| | |write off the |
| | |interest on the |
| | |capital amount. |
| | |National Treasury has|
| | |since advised ICASA |
| | |on the correct |
| | |process to follow and|
| | |ICASA is adhering to |
| | |the said processes. |
| | |The dispute arose as |
| | |a result of |
| | |non-payment of |
| | |spectrum fees. |
|R 57 847 007.31 |Wireless Business Solutions |WBS has interdicted |
| | |ICASA from |
| | |confiscating its |
| | |equipment used for |
| | |the transmission of |
| | |radio frequency |
| | |spectrum; Judgment in|
| | |the matter is still |
| | |reserved. The dispute|
| | |arose as a result of |
| | |non-payment of |
| | |spectrum fees. |
|R 78 791 423.92 |Vodacom (Pty) Ltd |A settlement |
| | |agreement has been |
| | |reached between ICASA|
| | |and Vodacom, the |
| | |contents of which |
| | |remain confidential. |
| | |The dispute arose as |
| | |a result of incorrect|
| | |tarrifs ICASA used to|
| | |bill Vodacom. |
|R182 375 359.00 |South African National Defence |SANDF applied for an |
| |Force (SANDF) |exemption for the |
| | |license fees and have|
| | |also surrended part |
| | |of the spectrum |
| | |allocated to them, |
| | |due to the fact that |
| | |they cannot afford to|
| | |pay the amount owed. |
| | |ICASA is still to |
| | |decide on a way |
| | |forward. The dispute |
| | |arose as a result of |
| | |non-payment of |
| | |spectrum fees. |
|R 383 047 277.95 | | |
3) (a) 14 108
(b) The names of the licence holders are listed in the attached table.
(c) R10 617 850
4) As of end January 2013:-
a) There were no broadcasting service licences which were due for
renewal.
b) There were no unreserved postal service certificates which were due
for renewal.
c) There were no electronic communications services and electronic
communications network service licenses which were due for renewal.