Khumbudzo Ntshavheni (Grade C+)

Read More

Department

Communications and Digital Technologies

Key Goals

1. Ensure broadcast digital migration: In progress2. Establish an artificial intelligence hub: In progress3. Digitise the government: In progress

Analysis

It has been more than a year since President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Khumbudzo Ntshavheni as minister of communications and digital technologies and, although there have been wins, other projects are still works in progress. 

South Africa’s digital migration is 11 years behind. Last year, Khumbudzo appointed a steering committee to expedite the country’s long-delayed migration from analogue to digital. The deadline was January and that was not met. The deadline was moved to March, which was also missed. 

The department’s goal is to reach 100% access to the internet by 2024. 

On 30 November, Ntshavheni launched the Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa for universities, research institutions and businesses to work together to implement solutions for some of Africa’s problems. The institute is being established in partnership with the Johannesburg Business School of the University of Johannesburg and the Tshwane University of Technology. It will open in 2023. 

There were also plans to digitise the government and, as a result, Digitech was unveiled. This platform is a digital distribution service developed, maintained and operated by the government. Its purpose is to centralise products and apps developed by small, medium and micro enterprises.In September, Ntshavheni threatened to declare the SABC board delinquent  for reckless trading. This comes after it failed to submit a revenue improvement plan in June this year. The public broadcaster incurred a loss of almost R1 billion. According to the SABC’s financial statements for 2020-21 the public broadcaster made a net loss of R530 million compared with the previous year.

Cyril Ramaphosa

David Mabuza

Maite Nkoana-Mashabane

Fikile Mbalula

Angie Motshekga

Aaron Motsoaledi

Nathi Mthethwa

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

NkhensaniKubayiNgubane

NosiviweMapisaNqakula

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni

Thulas Nxesi

Naledi Pandor

Mathume Joseph Phaahla

Pravin Gordhan

Senzo Mchunu

Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams

Tito

ZweliMkhize

Lindiwe Zulu

Patricia DeLille

Ronald Lamola