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MEDIA RELEASE
THE COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITYTOGETHER WITH INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS TO ADDRESS COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES IN MAFEFE, LIMPOPO
01August 2012
Johannesburg – The Independent Communications Authority of SouthAfricahas, earlier in the year, hosted the International Consumer Rights Day Roadshows from 15th to 28th March 2012 in all Provinces. The Authority found a number of communications challenges that are experienced by communities, which needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
During the International Consumer Rights Day Roadshows, the Authority hosted the campaign at Mafefe village, situated in the Limpopo Province. The village is under the traditional leadership of Kgosi Setlamorago Thobejane. The village was found to be an exception compared to many other villages visited at the time due to lack of mobile network connectivity, television broadcasting services and limited radio services. The availability of postal services is also on a limited scale, to an extent that the community had to walk long distances to access postal services.
The Authority, through the Chairperson of ICASA Dr Stephen Mncube, has therefore engaged and arranged a meeting with all network service providers, SABC, USAASA and other important stakeholders to be held at Mafefe Village where these stakeholders will collectively come up with a strategy for ensuring universal service and access to communication services at Mafefe and many other similar under-serviced areas in the country.
Among other important gueststhat confirmed attendance are:
Honourable, Councillor Maria Nakedi Lekganyane, Speaker of Capricorn District Municipality.
Honourable Kgosi Setlamorago Thobejane, MP.
Honourable Acting Premier, MEC David Masondo.
Honourable Chairperson, Mr Eric Kholoane, Chairperson Parliamentary Committee on Communications, MP.
Her Worship, Councillor Ivy Phaahla, Mayor, Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality.
The team of ICASA Inspectors will, on Thursday (02/08/12), be conducting network tests and measurementsto determine the network levels and whether calls can be made from the area. Among others, the ICASA team will also check the television and radio signals to determine the picture quality as well as which radio stations can be reached in the area. A full presentation of the state of affairs will be presented to the stakeholders meeting the following day.
Details for the meeting are as follows:
Date: 3rd August 2012.
Venue: Mafefe Village (About 120Km from Polokwane)
Time 10h00 – 13h00
Ends…
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Paseka Maleka
011 566 3455
079 509 0702