Latest news with #KhuselaDiko
Eyewitness News
10-06-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Opposition parties reject establishment of another state-owned company
CAPE TOWN - Opposition parties have rejected the launch of another state-owned company that will consolidate and control all digital assets across the state. The Communications and Digital Technologies Committee received a briefing on the consolidation of fibre networks from all State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to form the South African State Digital Infrastructure Company. But the move has been criticised by some parties who say there's no need for another state company that will be poorly managed and drain the fiscus. The committee heard on Tuesday how the new state-owned entity would be a merger of state telecoms company Broadband Infraco (BBI) and government-owned signal distributor Sentech. READ: Bill seeking to incorporate all SOEs into 1 holding company open for public participation The company would have control of all fibre networks and digital infrastructure, including those owned by other SOEs that aren't in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, like Transnet and Eskom. "There is a very clear proposal or recommendation and therefore adopted position of the country, that we should look at streamlining the digital assets of the country in a wholesale provider of broadband connectivity," said committee chairperson, Khusela Diko. But the official opposition MK Party's Colleen Makhubele said she doesn't understand the business case for the new entity. "Is it just not another financial burden for taxpayers? Why do we keep creating state-owned entities when we fail to manage the current ones?" BBI CEO, Gift Zowa said there is a need for the state company to go to areas where the major networks refuse to go, such as rural and remote areas, to give the poor greater connectivity.
Eyewitness News
27-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Malatsi to meet MPs over decision to ease BBBEE requirements for companies
CAPE TOWN - Communications Minister Solly Malatsi will face members of Parliament (MPs) on Tuesday to explain his decision to ease Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) requirements for companies, including Elon Musk's Starlink. Members of the committee are expected to quiz Malatsi on his decision which has come under criticism from portfolio committee chairperson, Khusela Diko, and parties like the MK Party, which have threatened court action. Malatsi gazette the regulation on Friday, which allows his department and its entities to consider other factors like costs, ahead of other requirements. The regulation published on Friday by Minister Malatsi has been dubbed the 'Starlink gazette' because it will allow companies like Musk's satellite internet provider to operate without meeting certain transformation requirements. Starlink is currently unable to launch in the country because it doesn't have a local entity that is 30% black owned as required by law. Communications committee chairperson, Khusela Diko, said the regulations appear to be 'in contravention of the Electronic Communications Act and in favour of low earth orbit satellite provider SpaceX' and wants an explanation from Malatsi. Non-profit organisation, public interest SA, has also entered the debate and has written to Diko to express 'deep concern' over what it describes as 'procedurally flawed and legally questionable actions by Malatsi'. But Malatsi has defended the move, saying the directive seeks to provide the much-needed policy certainty to attract investment into the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector.
The Citizen
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Chance for people to really benefit
The ANC, via communications portfolio chair Khusela Diko, is apparently up in arms. A common practice in the defence sector to sweeten deals with governments is to offer 'counter-trade' or 'offset' provisions, which effectively return part of the purchase price to the buyer or to people in the form of investment. The concept is also one of the most abused in international trade, as our own country can testify, having seen only fractions of the R20 billion promised by European weapons makers in our arms deal in the '90s. That's why the suggestion by Communications Minister Solly Malatsi for equivalent investment programmes as a way to get around the broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) rules in the communications sector needs to be assessed very carefully. His proposal would make it easier for Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet product to be sold in South Africa, because the company would not have to be 30% owned by black people or companies. Instead, an amount would have to be spent on programmes or projects which would offer a direct, empowering benefit for black people. ALSO READ: Malatsi summoned to Parliament to explain Starlink policy directive The ANC, via communications portfolio chair Khusela Diko, is apparently up in arms – backed by local communications companies – because Malatsi's proposal is allegedly illegal. Would we be too cynical to wonder whether Malatsi's idea – allegedly put together by his party, the DA, behind the backs of its government of national unity (GNU) partners – is offensive to the ANC because it would keep the comrades away from the Starlink feeding trough? Interesting that a company run by Diko's husband was linked to massive corruption in personal protective equipment tenders during Covid-19… although she was cleared of any wrongdoing by the ANC… This, though, could be much bigger than just Musk. It could be a whole new way of creating genuine grassroots black economic empowerment, rather than just lining the pockets of the chosen political few ALSO READ: Malatsi gazettes policy direction to possibly allow Musk to operate Starlink in SA [VIDEO]
eNCA
04-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Would regulating podcasts endanger freedom of speech?
eNCA's audience has raised concerns about Parliament's call to regulate podcasts. Parliament is considering ways to close the regulatory gap for online audio content as podcasts' influence continues to grow. The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, Khusela Diko, says: "The reason government/Parliament would want to raise issues of regulation is largely because these platforms are now being used for harmful expression." Responding on eNCA's social media platforms, this is what some of viewers and readers had to say: On X: "This might be a serious misunderstanding of the service offering from podcasts. Stifling them with potential bureaucratic processes development by the state will destroy the art of podcasting. We have laws set around defamation and/or crimen injuria which can be tested - that's relating to the MacG Minnie incident," says @kaMalambule. "They need to be regulated. Just the other day on YouTube, I was watching a murder-accused and the accuser in one room asking each other questions like its court. Of course it ended in a fight. Such things should be limited!!," says @Abyred6. "Podcasts are out here doing whatever they want. At this rate, they might need a rule book just for all the wild opinions. But for real, should online audio follow broadcasting rules, or is the freedom what makes it fun?," says @InsertCoinZA. "Taxi industry is a multi-billion industry but government can't touch them. But they want to touch harmless podcasters. Yoh hai," says @molaba_labas. On Facebook: "Regulating podcasts like traditional broadcasters is a dangerous overreach. Podcasts thrive because they give ordinary people a voice, especially those excluded by mainstream media. Applying outdated broadcasting laws to this space shows a clear disconnect from how digital platforms work. Instead of trying to control the narrative, Parliament should focus on real issues like digital literacy and online safety. Silencing independent creators under the guise of 'regulation' is censorship, not protection. We must protect free expression, not police it," says Akani Hlungwane Jr. "They must first give us a five year plan of how they intend dealing with illegal and legal migration, there are worse criminals who legally migrate to our shores as well, we have to intensify these marches, and increase our list of demands, to include foreign churches, so-called prophets and bishops, access to informal economy, that should be exclusively for the citizens, sis Jacinta can't do this on her own sans I know we can rise up to the occasion," says Mae Boiketlo Mphoso. "Why is the government worried about podcasts, what are they afraid of? Is it because they getting exposed? It's freedom of speech," says Shaheen Young. "Let people have free speech, not so long ago another one was calling white people dogs and saying they are less of a human and you kept quiet... and others were publicly asking another country's regime to make South Africa great again and you kept quiet because you are a government with no laws. They wouldn't do nothing like that in North Korea or Iran, there's law there, no means no!," says Vuyani Mgijima.
