31 March 2006
The Department of Communications today presented its 2006 â 2009 Strategic
Plan before the Portfolio Committee on Communications in Parliament. The
Departmentâs Strategy was presented by Deputy Minister Radhakrishna L
Padayachie and Director-General Lyndall Shope-Mafole.
The Strategic Plan was prepared and presented before the Portfolio Committee
as required by Chapter 5 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA Act No 1 of
1999) and Chapter 1, Part III b, of the new Public Service Regulations of
2001.
In his presentation, Deputy Minister Padayachie said the Department, among
others, has identified and prioritised the following areas of focus for the
2006/07 financial year:
* Development and implementation of a Broadband Strategy
* Development of a Broadcasting Digital Migration Strategy
* Implementation of the information and communications technology (ICT) black
economic empowerment (BEE) Charter
* Universal Service and Access policy and strategy
* Development of a strategy to address outcomes of the Macro Social Report
The Deputy Minister also announced that the Department has allocated funding
to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and Sentech towards a
Digital Migration project, which will see the opening up of the broadcasting
field to many more players, especially small regional broadcasters.
Previously, the Department of Communicationsâ portfolio organisations â the
SABC, Sentech, South African Post Office, Independent Communications Authority
of South Africa (ICASA) and the Universal Service Agency â presented their
plans to the Portfolio Committee on Communications.
For further media enquiries contact:
Albi Modise - Acting Head of Communication
Tel: (012) 427 8017
Cell: 083 490 2871
E-mail: albi@doc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Communications
31 March 2006
