I talked to the spokesperson for South Africa's minister of communications after the minister of communications, Siphiwe Nyanda's unexpected and sudden decision yesterday to get rid of the Digital Dzonga advisory council, that will now be reconstituted with new council members. The minister of communications cites ''conflict of interest'' under council members.
The past two years the Digital Dzonga advisory council advised the minister about South Africa's digital TV migration process, known as digital terrestrial television (DTT) - a process that's already lagging behind.
I asked Tiyani Rikhotso what exactly the conflict of interest is. I wanted to know when a new council will be up and running. I wanted to know when this conflict of interest came under the minister's attention if they have been serving for two years already.
Read the answers by clicking on READ MORE below.
South African government dissolves Digital Dzonga advisory council looking after migration to digital terrestrial television (DTT).
The FULL PRESS RELEASE issued by the minister of communications dissolving the Digital Dzonga advisory council.
I thought this was an April fools' joke. It's so shocking. Can you tell me what kind of conflict of interest there would have been?
We outlined in the statement that most of the members on the Digital Dzonga advisory council actually represent organizations that either directly or indirectly have an interest in the process itself. I don't want to mention specific names. You can do your own research and find out who these people are. It was based on the fact that there was a feeling that we don't want to have the department of communications, and the process of digital migration, being compromised by such an issue where people say that other organizations have an unfair advantage over others because they have representation and people on the council itself. We just want to have a clear process that's not marred by any concerns later because of any individuals who sits on the Digital Dzonga council.
But where would minister Siphiwe Nyanga then find new Digital Dzonga council members when the minister reconstitute the council and people that's not already part of, and working in the South African broadcasting industry? Where do you get experts not already working as experts?
We're going to issue an invitation as soon as possible. Then we are going to make sure that we select people sitting on the council who not at all have any conflict of interest. That is how we are going to proceed. We are not going to issue an invitation and then going to appoint people who are having a similar background as those who were a part of the initial Digital Dzonga council. We will make sure that we do not do things that will raise unneccesary doubts.
Is there any date for when the minister wants the council to be reconstituted?
The migration process is a very important and complex process. We want to have a council constituted as soon as possible – as soon as it's humanly possible to reconstitute a new council. We believe that we need to move fast so that we can meet all the deadlines that we have set ourselves.
When did this come under the minister's attention that there is a conflict of interest according to him and when did the department realize there is now this ''conflict of interest'' issue?
I don't know the dates. I don't think it's relevant. It's relevant that we had a meeting with them and then had a discussion with them. We basically agreed that the best way to move forward is to basically reissue invitations and then those who were on the council who feel that they are not conflicted, they will still be allowed to nominated. If there names are brought forward and we believe they pose a lesser risk as far as potential conflict of interest, then their names will be considered together with anyone else.
