Chairperson, compared to service delivery departments the R2 billion budget allocated to the Department of Communications seems to be very small. Yet through its strategic partnership with the private sector and state-owned enterprises, SOEs, it could direct the investment of billions of rands more in information and communications technology, ICT, infrastructure and services to the people through timeous and correct policy interventions and incentives.
Technical industry jargon and political jargon should not be allowed to obscure the fact that there is a very simple matter before us today. It is about our people and giving them access - wherever they live - equal access to the knowledge economy and to job opportunities. That is essentially what communications is about. The roll-out of broadband to schools and communities in informal and rural areas, coupled with intensive ICT skills development, has become a national priority. Indeed, ICT is the highway to development and prosperity. It is the ultimate key to empowering the disadvantaged people residing in remote areas. Without that our people will remain marginalised for generations to come.
The National Development Plan is setting a goal of 100% access to reliable broadband by 2020. Today, there are only about 13% of South Africans who have access to broadband. This calls for drastic intervention by government, including the provision of electricity to schools to bridge the gap.
Communication is about much more than controlling the news and spinning the President and Ministers out of trouble. It is not to appoint three Ministers in four years that the President is giving us an understanding that he understands the key role of this portfolio in a developmental state, even though the National Planning Commission recognises its strategic role to leverage job creation and the knowledge economy.
The fact is, unfortunately, that the Department of Communication has become the single largest stumbling block in the delay in the roll-out of cheaper and faster broadband in South Africa. It has effectively imploded. It is tied up in legal battles, turnover of disciplinary committees and internal strife. In fact, the Minister is at war with her own director-general. Apart from policy revision workshops, colloquiums, indabas and other talk- shops, as well as participation in international conferences, it has no measurable output. We now hear about Bills coming in the very last term of this Parliament. Its impact as an enabler of Telkom's roll-out is zero. In fact, the industry has to either fight it or work around it to roll out infrastructure, to offer services and to introduce the latest technologies in our country. Similarly state-owned entities, those reporting to this department, are mostly in shambles as a result of the Minister's political meddling in their functions.
The constitutionally enshrined Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, Icasa, is a weak lapdog of the Minister. Instead of optimising and managing spectrum and licensing fees effectively and independently, it fumbles and is embroiled in protracted legal action. These inefficiencies present the best excuse for the Minister to usurp its functions. Read the newspapers. Icasa should free up spectrum for broadband roll-out, but it is paralysed by the Minister's failure to conclude the spectrum policy.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation, SABC, has its third board of directors in as many years. Why? It is because of the political meddling and the remote control of news content from Luthuli House.
The Minister promised a forensic investigation into the serious corporate governance failures under the Ngubane board, but nothing is forthcoming. The turnaround strategy has failed. We wish the interim board all the best. Staff morale remains low. The top structure continues to consume the largest slice of the salary cake. Professional news reporters carry ANC membership cards for protection against witch-hunts and unfair disciplinary hearings. Ask them; that is a fact. Staff salaries are adjusted at the whim of the acting chief operating officer.
It seems that the Guptas did not only invade our air space, they will soon also control sections of our cyber space through the launch of their 24- hour news channel, courtesy of the SABC, who has given them free airtime to air The New Age, breakfast sessions and propaganda hours given to the Ministers and the ANC government. This is not a public broadcaster.
The Minister staged a crippling upset at Telkom. My colleague referred to that. There is an undisputable direct correlation between affordable telecoms and economic and job growth, also between ICT skills and economic activity. My colleague referred to the World Economic Forum's Global Information Technology Report of 2013, which does not give us a good picture of where we have gone; we have slipped down the ladder.
Countrywide broadband access, digital migration and cheaper rates to communicate have been identified by the DOC as their strategic goals, but what have they done? By their own assessment they have failed dismally in the previous financial year. What will make this year different? Key interventions need to be followed now.
First of all, spectrum policy should be finalised by no later than October this year, and Icasa must move swiftly to release spectrum. Secondly, government must take urgent steps to ensure that South Africa's digital migration takes place, and it must be done before June 2015, which is the international deadline. There is no excuse for not adhering to that deadline. Thirdly, government should stop acting as a referee and player in the ICT industry. It should get out of telecoms - in more ways than one. It should sell its shares in Telkom and other SOEs. It cannot direct ICT policy that dictates to Icasa, yet through Telkom and Sentech, and Broadband Infraco, compete directly in the ICT space.
It appears that political and commercial interests of the ANC government direct the Minister's meddling in the affairs of Telkom, Sentech, Icasa and the SABC. The digital terrestrial television, DTT, roll-out and set-top box manufacturing delay is a direct result of this political meddling and the interests of cronies and those politically connected business people.
Cope suggests that the Minister cannot drive the important processes that this department should drive at present. We would like to recommend that the Minister resign with immediate effect and the entire department be placed under the administration of the National Treasury. [Interjections.] [Time expired] [Applause.]