South Africa's ICT Green Paper Policy Development Process including Historical Influences
By meghughes
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During F.W de Klerk's reign as President in Apartheid South Africa, there began the distinct movement away from mostly state-led market system to a free-market system. This change would directly influence the telecommunications section resulting in the introduction of MTN and Vodacom and the privatisation of Telkom in the 1990s (Singh, 2010).
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South Africa will always be defined by the periods before and after the first Democratic elections. All future policies, including that of the communications sector, are ultimately affected by the Constitution and other documents and policies that was drawn up in the post-apartheid South Africa. Image: (Weinberg, 1994) -
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In an address to the G7 Ministerial conference on the global information society, then-deputy president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, highlighted how important the construction of communications infrastructure was to rebuilding and uplifting the citizens of the country. He emphasised the importance of an approach that was not local, but African and global with cooperation from all nations (European Commission, DG III – Industry, Secretariat-General, 1995). Image: (Encyclopædia Britannica, n.d.) -
Z P Jordan highlighted the importance of bringing telecommunications and broadcasting to the disadvantaged regions of South Africa (Department of Communications, 2013).
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It was intended to bring South Africa in line with developed nations but differing interpretations of the act and its intentions (as well as significant bureaucratic issues and conflicts) lead to significant problems with the implementation and, thus, a delay or fragmented successes in reaching the goals of the government (Singh, 2010). In addition, Singh (2010) points out that the costs to consumers were not considered which led to numerous failed initiatives.
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The work of Z P Jordan, alongside telecommunication stakeholders, civil society and businesses, lead to the 1996 Telecommunications Act. This act results in the creation of the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SATRA). SATRA would work with the Universal Service Agency to address issues relating to the universal delivery of telecommunications services to all South Africans (Singh, 2010)
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Established alongside the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority as part of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the aim of USA was to ensure "universal and affordable provision of telecommunications services throughout South Africa" (Singh, 2010, p 214). Singh (2010) adds that the goals of USAASA are ethereal rather than practical in nature and sets the various projects created from it up for failure.
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J Naidoo, reiterates the visions of the government and his predecessors in the foreword of the 1998 White Paper on Broadcasting Policy that it was vital for all South African's to have access to "broadcasting" catering to the "diverse needs of the total population" to ensure the nation is meeting the requirements outlined in the nation's Constitution (Department of Communications, 2013, p 6).
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The importance of "universal, equal and affordable access" to telecommunications and broadcasting services for all South Africans is again emphasised in this paper (Department of Communications, 2013, p 6).
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South Africa hosts a number of African telecommunications ministers at a conference that was intended to open channels of communication between nations and potential cooperation in addressing the barriers to connectivity for African citizens. The challenges of the continent, including a lack of content in African languages, was discussed (Nassimbeni, 2014).
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The official body for overseeing the "communications, broadcasting and postal services sectors", ICASA was established through the ICASA Act in 2000. It is meant to help the development and growth of the ICT sector through regulatory actions such as licensing (ICASA, 2022)
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While the intention of the Telecommunications Amendment Act was likely to continue the advancement of access of information communication technology to all South African citizens (Republic of South Africa, 2001) , through "greater state involvement" (Singh, 2010, p. 217) it ultimately fell short of understanding the costs passed on to both operators and consumers (which were unsustainable) (Singh, 2010).
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In an attempt to create a holistic vision and aim for the country, South Africa adopts The National Development Plan with the idea that it will be completed by 2030. ICT is seen as central to the achievement of the plan's ultimate goals (that of an uplifted, economically advanced, and equal South Africa) and highlights the need for holistic review of policies, especially those interconnected in the ICT space (Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, 2014).
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Created with the intention of developing holistic ICT Policies in South Africa, the Minister of Communications appointed a panel reflecting the diversity of ICT stakeholders (Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, 2015)
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Beginning the review process of the current ICT (and related) policies and approaches through calling on all public stakeholders (such as industry organisations and ordinary citizens) for feedback, this paper continues to highlight ICT importance for equality and economic progression and suggests objectives to elicit debate. (Department of Communications, 2013). This, in a sense, narrows the focus of the feedback which can be argued is necessary but may also bury certain issues. -
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The second stage in the development of the ICT Policy, the Green Paper sets to outline the responses from the Framing Paper and encourage further feedback and collaboration from all stakeholders. The current state of the sector, and future trends and outlooks are provided, alongside guiding questions for feedback couched in the necessary context for appreciating the complexity of the issue at hand to assist in focusing responses (Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, 2014). -
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Feedback from stakeholders resulted in a vision that promotes access, free expression, innovation, transparency and safety in the ICT sector for producers and consumers. The rights to privacy and the respect for the guidelines provided by the Constitution are emphasised. Further input from stakeholders is invited (through pointed question and suggested options) on how to achieve the vision (Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, 2014) which echoes previous policy and politicians. -
The final stage, the Review Report outlines the recommendations made based on the feedback from the stakeholders (keeping in mind the regulatory systems within which the Policy must function). For example, ICT Regulatory Panel suggests that broadband internet infrastructure be considered "an essential facility" (Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, 2015, p. 9), again echoing previous policy and politicians. Government review the policy before accepting and implementing. -
Please see submitted word document for list of references used for this timeline.