Communications
This includes telephone connectivity, radio, television, wireless internet connectivity and postal service.
   All South Africans need to be able to communicate, and send, receive and present information at affordable costs. This is fundamental to making a living, running a family or a business, and simply getting ahead in a competitive world. In short, it is basic to all socio-economic development and advancement.
   The existing landline operator is over-priced and monopolistic. Land-line ("fixed") industry restructuring imperatives include, divesting in and reorganising infrastructural ownership, expansion and maintenance of contracts, consolidation of remaining fixed operations, and introduction of competing service providers.
   Telephony industry directives for the coming decade include mandatory affordable rural service provision by all service providers, including fixed, cell phone, and internet connectivity. This must be laid out and implemented according to a Information Communication Roll-out Plan ("ICRP") which will be monitored by a suitable regulator to trouble-shoot and ensure target achievement.
   State-controlled radio (18 stations) and television (4 channels) is monopolistic and detrimental to freedom of speech and free flow of information. These stations and channels should be unbundled operationally, and only regulated when it comes to rights issues, like protection against hate-speech, pornography and excessive violence. Content and advertising competition would go a long way to improving the spectrum of knowledge and choice necessary for the development of independent, forward-thinking citizens.
   The Post Office needs to clamp down on racist and ill-mannered staff - such unprofessional behaviour is totally impermissible in the public / parastatal service. Public Information Terminals (PITs; www.pit.co.za) must be extended to all Post Offices, to increase access to the internet by more of the people, especially those rurally located.
   (See also "Freedom of Speech".)