"The IFP believes that it is incumbent on the State to accelerate the process of commercialisation and privatisation of State-owned assets."

The IFP today welcomed the Public Enterprises Department strategic framework in parliament, for its clear "performance measurements, greater knowledge and processes related to reporting, opportunity search and management. One of the most welcoming aspects is the substantial reduction of consulting fees."

Mr Hennie Bekker, IFP Spokesperson for Public Enterprise, noted that the Department's "most remarkable achievement too date was the successful commercialisation and listing of Telkom" and asked if Telkom's "telephone call rates and other fees [were] excessive?"

Bekker expressed the hope of the IFP that "Telkom's profits will soon result in lower tariffs, which will benefit the poorest communities most of all."

Bekker said that the IFP believes that it is "incumbent on the State to accelerate the process of commercialisation and privatisation of State-owned assets" in order to remedy the failure of the State to make certain parastatals more efficient, and to improve the delivery of services and products to the public.

Bekker added that the IFP does not support the privatisation of essential utilities, such as water, and that it was vital to safeguard that State monopolies are not merely converted into private monopolies. Bekker used the example of Orange and other service providers in the UK, which has provided stiff competition to BT, driving up standards and consumer prices down.