Malatsi under fire from Portfolio Committee over ICT policy gazette

Communications Minister Solly Malatsi says he understands that some view the timing of the gazetting of policy directions for equity equivalent investment programmes and communication sector licencing as suspicious.

Some reports claim the directions are aimed at favouring Elon Musk’s satellite-based internet service, Starlink.

Malatsi has appeared before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee.

He says work on the policy directions started last year.

“What I do pick up though, which is a genuine concern of the members of the committee and some of the sentiment of the public, it is saying why that week, right? And I make the point that depending on what conclusion you want to get to, you’ll get any argument that suits that. I made the point earlier that when we communicated on the policy directive, the timeline we were aiming and working with was to finalize the policy direction process by mid-June.”

The majority of members in the committee did not accept Malatsi’s explanation that no special compensation will be created for any company or individual.

EFF member Sixolise Gcilishe, MK MP Colleen Makhubele and Oscar Mathafa from the ANC had harsh words for Malatsi.

“We will explore all legal mechanisms, won’t have a situation where laws are rewritten in Washington.”

“The clandestine, unilateral approach you took in providing this policy directive, is very bizarre and very abnormal.”

“This policy directive not correct to be proposed under the current circumstances that the transformation of the GNU that we represent.”