The Minister of Communications, General Siphiwe Nyanda has taken note of the ongoing media debacle around the “illegal use of Sentech’s allocated spectrum by Screamer”. As a matter of fact, the Minister of Communications commissioned a Ministerial Task team in July 2009 to amongst others interrogate, review and advise on corrective measures that are required to ensure that Sentech continues to operate a sustainable business.
Furthermore, to ensure that Sentech continues to provide strategic support to the implementation of the government’s programme of action. The Ministerial Task Team was tasked to look into Sentech’s operational business model, governance structures, business sustainability, etc. One of the identified anomalies found by the Ministerial Task Team in Sentech’s business was the illegal operational model which was used as a revenue generator in some of their business units or divisions.
The Minister has since been made aware of this spectrum policy transgression; and that the Ministerial Task Team’s recommendations formed part of the Ministerial brief for the newly appointed Sentech Board. The Board was given a responsibility to deal with this matter as part of the Sentech implementation and corrective plan and that there’s an ongoing investigation conducted by the new board members. It must also be recorded that it is neither the Minister of Communications’ jurisdiction nor the Department of Communications to authorise such an illegal operation as suggested by some of the media reports – such an operation is not in line with the spectrum policy.
“I am confident that the responsible authority will take actions against illegal operations – particularly those that are abusing spectrum policy directives as pronounced by my Ministry” concludes, Nyanda.
Enquiries:
Panyaza Lesufi
E-mail: panyazal@doc.gov.za
Pearl Seopela
Cell: 082 906 1404
E-mail: pearl@doc.gov.za
