I think a fundamental issue here is that the regulator is as much in the dark as the rest of us when it comes to Telkom. Sadly, like most regulatory authorities in this fair land of ours, I think they are buckled by their lack of organisation, not their lack of authority - and let me explain myself.
It amazes me that ICASA have no written and gazetted greivance/complaints procedure. In other words, where the regulating authority have no clear policy on handling legitimate grievances, how can they possibly enforce any policy or make a decision on a course of remedial action to the companies they are meant to be regulating?
They need to publish clear guidelines and enforcable timeframes for the handling of grievances. This way, they will have a clear picture of the scale of dissent from the public whose interests they are there to in effect serve.
HOWEVER, in this instance, it actually is to our benefit that there is no policy document or protocol to follow. They dont respond, we up the ante and go public with the contents of the grievance.
ICASA are like fire fighters equipped with 2 geriatric firemen and a leaky hose. I don't think there is any formal body in SA that has the balls to go up against Telkom, or, that wants to stick its neck out and perhaps ring in the changes.
Furthermore, I think the legacy of our previous regime is still entrenched in our Telecomms industry - "the public are neanderthals, we will do what we feel is best". In the spirit of the new constitution, Telkom and ICASA should be made obliged to be transparent in their dealings and transparent in their communication and the information they give the public. They are after all spending our tax money. If this means taking it to President Mbeki himself, so be it.
We need to keep plugging away. You will be amazed at the people who are observing our progress, and stunned at the quarters they hail from.
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