Hell, if ever there was a case of fabricating the news, this is it - WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE'S NO PRECISE DATE, PRESSLY! Merely because a public official also says so, certainly does not make it newsworthy! Methinx you should get some training reinforcement in what really is news...
Funny thing, the White Paper on telecoms policy gave a specific date for the beginning of SNO's operations. Even the first few drafts of the Telecoms Act gave specific dates. That is, until Jay Naidoo reared his ugly head and threw the whole damned process off track.
We need to find a way to increase pressure on the government.
Telecommunications Act: Intention to issue a Public Switched Telecommunications Service (PSTS) licence to the second national operator (Gazette 23475, Notice 894), 31 May 2002
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (the Authority) hereby gives notice that in terms of section 32A of the Act the Authority intends to issue a PSTS licence to the Second National Operator in terms of section 32B of the Telecommunications Act 103 of 1996 read with the General Notice issued by the Minister in terms of section 35A of the Act and published under gazette number 23427.
...almost the three year anniversary of the publication of the SNO's draft licence