National Assembly: 7th July 2009

Mr Speaker,

The IFP will support this Vote, but we would like to raise two issues which are of concern to us.

First, we want to raise our concern with regards to the relationship that this Department has had with the SABC and especially with the dissolved Board.  It emerged during the enquiry which the Portfolio Committee held into the affairs of the SABC Board that the relationship between the Board and the Corporation was somewhat strained and less than normal.  The Board complained that It received less than full support from the Department, which is the sole shareholder of the SABC.  On the other hand, the Department complained that the previous Board failed to conform to their directives.  We urge the Department to correct this situation so that the Interim Board and the new Permanent Board will operate with maximum support possible from the Department.

The second issue relates to what appears to have been the urban bias and focus of the Department in the past.  Our major gripe has to do with the failure of the Department to actively see to it that ICT services are extended equitably to reach all citizens of this country,  especially to those who live in the rural areas of our land.   The  people of the rural areas also deserve first class ICT services.  It is for this reason that we welcome the Minister's undertaking during the Budget Vote to steer his Department towards correcting this situation, and we want to assure the Honourable Minister of our full support in his endeavours to also make the rural citizens of this country first class citizens.

Contact:
Rev Musa Zondi
083 440 5966