Early this morning the Minister of Telecommunications, Dr Siyabonga Cwele, learnt with sadness the passing on of Ms Libby Lloyd who had been sick since last year. Ms Lloyd succumbed to her battle against illness on Thursday, 18 January 2018.
The Ministry and the entire ICT sector has lost a courageous and dependable compatriot in our relentless efforts to create an ICT sector that responds to the needs of all citizens especially those in under-serviced areas. Throughout her career spanning over two decades, Libby has shown a strong bias on the side of the urban and rural poor, and was always willing to engage on solutions that sought to change and improve their conditions.
Recently, Libby served on a panel of experts that assisted the Ministry with the development of the Integrated White Paper on ICT Policy which paves a way for radical transformation of the ICT sector. At the time of her death, the Department had started to implement some of the key provisions of the ICT policy. Amongst these are the publication of the Electronic Communications Amendment Bill and the ongoing work on the Digital Development Fund Bill which will soon be released for public consultation.
In addition to the work done at the Department, Ms served in various positions including as a councillor of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and its successor the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). She will be remembered as one of the pioneers of regulation in the post-apartheid South Africa.
“The ICT sector has lost a gallant daughter who was always willing to go to great lengths to advance the cause of a just and equal society underpinned by universal access and usage of ICTs. We dare not to fail in our endeavours to see through the implementation of the work that Libby championed,” said Minister Cwele.
The Minister and the department extend their deepest condolences to the family, friends, comrades and entire ICT fraternity.
May her soul rest in eternal peace.
Enqueries:
Siya Qoza
E-mail: siya@dtps.gov.za
Cell: 082 898 1657
