Question NW1440 to the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
15 June 2017 - NW1440
Mackenzie, Mr C to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
Whether his department has audited the use of funds given to certain municipalities from his department’s 2015-16 budget to implement free wifi hotspots; if not, why not; if so, what (a) reports have been submitted by each municipality indicating effective implementation and service delivered from this allocation and (b) are the further relevant details in this regard?
Reply:
I have been advised by the department as follows:
(a) During the implementation of WiFi networks by the Metros, Project offices from Metros provided the Department with weekly and Monthly progress reports. Subsequently the Department conducted physical site audits and verification on a sample of connected Wi-Fi sites as part of network performance monitoring. Around 150 live sites were audited in Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Nelson Mandela Bay and Cape Town.
(b) City of Johannesburg and Mangaung have connected some sites but have not completed their WiFi roll out programs. The Department is constantly engaging with these Metros to ensure that all sites are connected as per the agreed plans. The process to appoint WiFi service providers for both Metros is underway.