Question NW1647 to the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
19 July 2017 - NW1647
Shinn, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
Whether (a) his department or (b) any entity reporting to him has ever met with a certain company (name furnished); if so, (i) what are the names of the persons who were present at each meeting, (ii)(aa) when and (bb) where did each such meeting take place, (iii) what was the purpose of each specified meeting and (iv) what outcomes or agreements were reached in each case; (2) Whether there are any (a) current or (b) future engagements scheduled with the specified company; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
I have being advised by the Department and Entities as follows:
1)
(a) Yes, on 8th December 2015, I met with Mr. George of Inspur. Inspur is a Chinese multinational information technology company whose business activities include server manufacturing and software development.
(i) Mr. Joe Mjwara, Acting Director-General and Ms. Nonkqubela Thathakahle Jordan, Acting Deputy Director-General: ICT International Affairs and Trade Branch.
(ii) (aa) 8th December 2015
(bb) Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services Offices in Hatfield, Pretoria
(iii) No entity reporting to me except the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) met with Inspur at the same meeting of 8th December 2015.
(i) Dr. Setumo Mohapi, Chief Executive Officer of SITA and Dr. Daniel Mashao, Head of Department for Innovation and Research (SITA)
(ii) (aa) 8th December 2015
(bb) Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services Offices in Hatfield, Pretoria
(iii) Inspur gave a presentation on the work they do on data centres. Inspur developed China's first data centre in China in close cooperation with Baidu Company.
(iv) No agreement was reached at this meeting. SITA expressed interest in the security functioning of the integrated circuits (BIOS). No follow-ups were made thereafter.
(2)(a)& (b) No current or future engagements have been or were scheduled with the company in question.
Approved/Not Approved
---------------------------------
Dr Siyabonga Cwele, MP
Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
Date: