Question NW3132 to the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
08 September 2015 - NW3132
Majola, Mr TR to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
(1)(a) What interactions has his (i) department or (ii) the SA Connect project office had with (aa) national and (bb) provincial government departments to determine and audit what information technology infrastructure projects are in process or being planned and (b) in each case, what are the relevant details of (i) departments, (ii) their projects and (iii) the budgeted costs over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework; (2) What strategy is being developed by the SA Connect project office in the case where no interactions have been held to ensure compliance by all government departments with the protocols of SA Connect?
Reply:
(1)(a) The Department has engaged all provinces, particularly those that will form part of Phase 1 of the broadband rollout programme. The purpose of the engagements was to ensure alignment between provincial initiatives and the SA Connect; communicate the intentions of the Departments with respect to Phase 1 of SA Connect; ensure that that there is optimum coordination between provincial line departments and the service providers who may rollout the programme.
(b) Only two provinces have funding for Broadband Projects, Gauteng (R1.2bn over 5 years) and Western Cape (R1.3bn over 7 years). Other provinces have broadband plans that do not have dedicated funding.
(2) The Department has established Provincial Broadband Steering Committees (PBSC). The PBSCs are provincially based structures that will support the co-ordination, alignment and increased professionalism of broadband implementation in the provinces. In order to fully achieve the effects of well managed broadband initiatives, the management of a combined approach between provinces and municipalities have been recognised.
Priority was given to provinces that are targeted for the first phase of Digital Development implementation. Gauteng and Western Cape Provinces will also be engaged on how to collaborate for the development of the implementation plans of facilities in the respective provinces.