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The South Africa yearbook (2005/06: 36) contends that the department of
Communications is at the forefront of government initiatives to bridge the
digital divide and prOVide universal access to ICT for all South Africans.
To this end, the GSA's Department of communication began the process of
developing legislation in the telecommunications sector in 1995 and 1996.
The 1995 Green Paper on Telecommunications Policy and the 1996 White
Paper on Telecommunications Policy formed the basis for the 1996
Telecommunications Act.
Notably, national policies and strategies on ICT in South Africa are
implemented by a cross section of government departments/institutions that
range from Arts and Culture; Science and Technology; Trade and Industry;
Communications; Education; and the Presidents office. Once again,
according to Audenhove (2003: 148), what appears to be lacking in South
Africa is a central institution that can steer initiatives and coordinate policy.
In South Africa, national policy development since 1998/99, has sought to
restructure state owned enterprises (SOE's) such as Telkom, introduce
competition, accelerate the penetration of services into under serviced areas
and streamline the regulatory framework. According to the South Africa
yearbook (2005/06:36) the Electronic Communications transactions act,
2002 (Act 25 of 2002), paved the way for a secure environment for e­
commerce transactions. Similarly, the Telecommunications amendment act,
2001 (Act 64 of 2001), gives effect to the policy of managed liberalisation of
the South African telecommunications market. It is expected that increased
competition will bring down costs of telecommunications and remove growth
constraints. Liberation of this sector became effective on the 1 February
2005.
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