Cablegate: Final Ict Charter Delayed

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS PRETORIA 001166

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/EPS AND AF/S/TCRAIG AND KGAITHER
COMMERCE FOR 4510/ITA/IEP/ANESA/OA/JDIEMOND
TREASURY FOR BRESNICK, LSTURM, AND AJEWELL
DEPT PASS USTR FOR PCOLEMAN, WJACKSON AND KSCHAGRIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV ETRD EFIN ECPS ECON SF
SUBJECT: FINAL ICT CHARTER DELAYED

1. A March 16 Business Day article reported that the
information and communications technology (ICT) charter
steering committee was being reorganized to draw up a new
empowerment charter for the industry. However, Department
of Communications Director of Policy and chair of the
current consultative process Joe Mjwara told a Reuters
reporter that the Business Day story was "without
foundation."

2. Mjwara acknowledged that the original March deadline for
finalizing the ICT Charter has been extended to June to
allow the steering committee to resolve outstanding issues
including equity ownership, composition of the industry
council monitoring Charter compliance, and whether state-
owned ICT companies should abide by the ICT Charter or
targets published by the regulatory body (Independent
Communications Authority of South Africa).

3. In November 2004, the ICT Charter working group
delivered a fifth draft of the charter to a new steering
committee for resolution of outstanding issues. The new
committee is operating under the auspices of the National
Economic Development and Labor Council (NEDLAC) and includes
representation from business, labor, government, community,
and civil society. Industry sources and an American Chamber
of Commerce official told Econoff that this consultative
process has generated a refined version of the ICT Charter,
reducing it from 100 pages to approximately 20. Post is
seeking to obtain a copy of this document.

FRAZER

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