General communications

WHEN Jacob Zuma announced his cabinet in May 2009, the news that former SA National Defence Force (SANDF) head and military general Siphiwe Nyanda would take over as minister of communications was met with curiosity. After all, Nyanda's qualifications for the post turned more on administrative and military matters, barring the BSc degree he started but never finished.

But there was little doubt that the department of communications required an administrator, and that he has certainly proved to be.

Nyanda inherited a bit of a mess at the department of communications (DOC). His predecessor, the late Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, had been at the helm of a range of policies, most of which were in a state of disarray. She was widely considered out of touch with the communications industry in South Africa, and even blamed for stifling the industry's progress.

Although it would be difficult to do worse than Matsepe-Casaburri, it was equally hard to fix the disaster she left behind.

Nyanda sprang into action almost immediately. He addressed issues such as high broadband and mobile communications prices, leadership troubles at state broadcaster the SABC, and the plight of another parastatal enterprise, Sentech.

He also brought some semblance of order to projects under way at the department, calling for reviews and investigations. He promised benefits for consumers, most of which have happened, even if those benefits have not gone as far as some had hoped.

But it hasn't all been a clear case of positive, decisive action.

The minister's most recent decision was to dissolve the Digital Dzonga council last week. This body was appointed in 2009 to oversee digital terrestrial television (DTT) migration in South Africa in alignment with global requirements.

Nyanda backtracked, saying that some council members represented a conflict of interests because they were employed by companies with a vested interest in the migration.

Given that the Digital Dzonga council was supposed to include industry representatives, it seems odd that fears of potential conflict of interests should be raised now, or at all.

Industry councils of this nature are common throughout the world: their point of departure is that they involve the industry to provide guidance.

Nyanda has indicated that the council may be reassembled with new members.

And then there's the ongoing matter of Nyanda's business interests, including allegations of lavish spending habits - a factor much called into question by opposition parties.

The ministerial line has been that business deals struck between his companies and public sector entities pre-date his cabinet appointment and therefore do not represent a conflict.

It's worth noting, however, that Nyanda's track record on questionable transactions extends to his role at the SANDF during the time of the infamous arms deal. He also heads up a brokerage for military equipment and has other business interests in the security industry, a fact opposition parties love pointing out.

But few would argue the minister's efficacy when it comes to getting things done.

Nyanda has taken matters into the department's hands when it came to the issue of mobile interconnect rates and their reduction. In this regard, he grasped the reins from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) which, while charged with regulating the industry, has been toothless in matters such as interconnect rates and pricing. Nyanda has also promised that broadband reductions would come.

Departmental investigations into Sentech and the SABC have also been converted into reports and lists of suggestions for the ailing parastatals.

This, in part, has led to a shift in leadership at Sentech. The department has made suggestions to the SABC for improvements, but trusts its current board to implement these and other changes.

Nyanda's first year in office has been largely positive. There have been reductions in interconnect rates, and promises that communication prices will come down for South African consumers and that deadlines will be met for digital migration, among other projects.

There is a still long way to go and many promises are yet to be delivered, but my summation would be that Nyanda is off to a good start.

Pity about the controversy with personal finances and business dealings. Forgive the cynicism, but do we expect anything else from our politicians?

- Fin24.com