MALATSI'S B-BBEE POLICY SETS 'WRONG PRECEDENT'

Minister's regulations undermine transformation agenda, say MPs

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

COMMUNICATIONS and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi's policy direction to ease broad-based economic empowerment (B-BBEE) regulations in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector faces an uphill battle, with MPs from within and outside the coalition government expressing their strong objections yesterday.

Malatsi was hauled before the Communications and Digital Technologies Portfolio Committee to explain his new policy directives aimed at easing B-BBEE requirements for licensing satellite services, including American billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink.

Malatsi reiterated his commitment to the principles of transformation in South Africa, stating that the new policy does not aim to create exceptions for specific companies or individuals.

Malatsi, who highlighted the ongoing efforts to introduce an equity equivalent investment programme in the ICT sector, clarified that his department's work pre-dates recent international developments, specifically referring to last week's visit to Washington by the South African delegation led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.