Universal Postal Union Constitution Amendments: Ratification; Telecommunications Unit: briefing

Meeting report

COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
27 August 2004
UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION CONSTITUTION AMENDMENTS: RATIFICATION; TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNIT: BRIEFING

Chairperson:

Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Communications
Decision of Minister Matsepe-Casaburri on granting of a license to the second national operator
Ratification of final acts and decisions of the 1999 Beijing Congress: Universal Postal Union

SUMMARY
The Committee were briefed by the Department’s Postal Business Unit and the Telecommunications Unit. After the former’s presentation and a few questions of clarification, Members unanimously agreed that Parliament ratify the amendments to the constitution of the Universal Postal Union. The Telecommunications Unit focussed on their restructuring, key performance areas, activities and functions.

The Committee asked further about staff movements, and whether Telkom might consider free local phonecalls. Members expressed regret about not having been informed about the previous day’s press conference by the Minister of Communications.

MINUTES

Department Postal Business Unit briefing
Ms Brenda Ntombela, Department General Manager of the Postal Business Unit, provided background on the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and its Plenipotentiary Council. The UPU was founded in 1874 as a specialised agency of the United Nations to encourage collaboration and development within the international postal sector. South Africa had joined in 1964, but had only been actively involved since its re-admission in 1994. The Union’s Plenipotentiary Council met every five years to consider proposals for amendments to the UPU constitution, and supervised Union activities.

Amendments had been made to the Union’s constitution and were subject to ratification by South Africa. The amendments were as follows:
- Article 22 had been amended to ensure that general regulations were binding on all member countries.
- Article 25 revision provided for the people responsible for the signature, authentication, ratification and other forms of approval of the Acts by the Union.
- Article 27 gave member countries the right to accede to any additional protocols and to other Acts of the Union at any time.
- Article 29 gave members the right to present proposals concerning the Acts of the Union to congresses.

The Department had consulted the State Law Advisers of the Departments of Justice and Constitutional Development, as well as Foreign Affairs, and no conflict with domestic laws had been identified. They had supported South Africa’s ratification.

Department Telecommunications Unit briefing
Mr Pakamile Pongwana, Department Senior General Manager from the Telecommunications Unit, focussed on the unit’s restructuring, Key Performance Areas (KPAs), and other Department activities and functions. Their mandate was informed by legislation such as the Telecommunications Act 103 of 1996, related government policies and National Directives. Their core function was to develop ICT policies and legislation that stimulated and enhanced sustainable development in the first and second economies.

The Department had developed KPAs to measure performance progress. One of these was ICT policy development for optimal investment conditions, and roll out of infrastructure and services. Broadcasting Policy Development was a priority. Another area was Research and Innovative Applications, to enhance service delivery through ICT mediums and applications. The Chief Strategy Management Area had to provide strategic direction and ensure general organisational excellence.

Regarding the restructuring process, the Department had developed a strategy, finalised its business plans, developed an organisational structure, and compiled organisational competency profiles. Regarding broadcasting, a market study had been done and they had considered particularly regional and public broadcasting, and digitisation. They would also draw up an ICT charter and focus on applications to improve universal internet access

The Department currently had 200 permanent staff, 75 contracted staff, 36 interns and 72 vacancies at different levels – a total of 347. The Department employed 121 women and 79 men.

Discussion
Ms D Smuts (DA) said that New Zealand had expressed reservations in ratifying and asked why this had been the case. She also asked what ‘terminal dues’ were.

Ms Ntombela responded that the State Legal Advisors from the two departments consulted, had not found any problems with South Africa’s ratification. ‘Terminal dues’ were the mail handling charges paid by countries sending mail to other countries.

Mr S Haasbroek (DA) asked if the terminal dues were still paid by South Africa’s foreign missions or by South Africa itself.

Ms Ntombela said payment was done through the operations of the South African Post Office.

Mr Y Wang (ID) asked for clarity on the word ‘state’ and wanted to know why the UPU particularly focussed on the state in its clause about the right to vote.

Ms Ntombela responded that the UPU called its members ‘country member states’. ‘State’ had no other connotation.

Mr M Maziya (ANC) suggested the acceptance of the ratification. There were no further questions and the ratification was unanimously approved

Ms Mokoto (ANC) then asked if the Department had ever considered the introduction of free local calls in South Africa. Had the Department’s restructuring been taken into consideration in the new budget?

Ms N Magazi (ANC) asked the Department to retain the current staff as they were doing a good job.

Mr R Pieterse (ANC) commented that women were far more numerous in the Department. He asked the Department to send them timeframes of Department projects.

Mr Pongwana responded that the Department would not have be retrenching as they was short of staff. However, they did still have to look at individual competencies and fit these to requirements and posts. He added that the issue of free local calls was a myth. Local calls in countries like the USA were subsidised by long distance and international services. This also depended on the level of competition between operators. Telkom would use international calls to cross subsidise local calls. Perhaps with the introduction of more competition, it would be possible

Mr R Pieterse (ANC) said that to promote employment equity, the Department should set themselves a target for hiring more disabled people.

The Chairperson then asked Mr Pongwana about a Press Conference held the day before. Most Members were most concerned that Committees were never informed about press conferences.

Mr Pongwana admitted the mistake and promised to better alert the Committee in future. Besides the Ministers’ press conferences, GCIS did keep track of progress regarding all other publicly expressed commitments.

The meeting was adjourned.