Department to ignore SATRA's decision

Johannesburg, 08 Jun 2000

The Department of Communications (DoC) has responded to a decision by the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (SATRA) to ignore its retraction of published guidelines, but only to say that the matter does not warrant a response.

"We do not have the time to respond to individuals who do not have the interests of the government and the industry at heart," ministerial spokesman Brian Sokutu quotes the DoC's director-general Andile Ngcaba as saying.

The SATRA council this week decided to implement its interconnection and facility leasing guidelines as published in the Government Gazette, despite the fact that communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri later tried to withdraw the regulations. The decision is seen as a move by SATRA to distance itself from the control of the Minster.

The DoC and the Ministry say they are focused on establishing the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the merged regulator that will take over the functions of SATRA and the Independent Broadcast Authority. "We are busy with the formation of a new and credible authority," Sokutu quotes Ngcaba.

While the DoC refuses to waste time in responding to SATRA's decision, Ngcaba apparently did take the time to call the decision "the manifestation of the last kicks of a dying horse."

SATRA chairman Nape Maepa and councillor William Currie have accepted nomination to the new authority. ICASA councillors are to be selected by the President from a shortlist compiled by the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications, without the direct involvement of the Minister.

The fact that the Ministry and DoC will not act on the guidelines does not mean that they are in force, however. SATRA says Telkom has reserved its rights on the council's resolution to implement the guidelines, which means it may yet be challenged. The Authority considers the matter sub judice and would not speculate further.

Telkom was not immediately available for comment.