Solly Malatsi Shares Plan To Revamp South Africa’s Communications Sector

South Africa’s new communications minister, Solly Malatsi, has taken on the ambitious task of stabilizing state-owned enterprises within his portfolio and promoting competition in the ICT sector.

Appointed at the end of June, Malatsi succeeds Mondli Gungubele, who now serves as his deputy. In his initial assessment, Malatsi acknowledged substantial progress within the industry but emphasized the need for further improvement.

One of Malatsi’s primary goals is to govern and stabilize state-owned enterprises, notably the South African Post Office and SABC. He believes opening the Post Office to public-private partnerships will ensure its financial sustainability in a competitive market.

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For SABC, Malatsi sees the potential to enhance content offerings and become a competitive force in the broadcasting space under its new leadership.

Solly Malatsi is also focused on creating legislation that promotes competition within the ICT sector. The litigious nature of the industry is a challenge he aims to address through proactive stakeholder engagement.

Recent disputes, such as Vodacom’s legal action against ICASA and eMedia’s case against former minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, highlight the sector’s contentious environment. Malatsi hopes to mitigate these issues, fostering a more cooperative and competitive landscape.

Another critical area of focus is the migration to digital terrestrial television and the switch-off of old analogue TV broadcasts, initially scheduled for 2011 but delayed multiple times.

Malatsi plans to adhere to the new deadline of December 31, 2024, set by his predecessor, Gungubele. Additionally, he intends to tackle other pressing issues such as sports broadcasting rights and the shutdown of South Africa’s 2G and 3G networks.