Stop secrecy around STB tenders: DA
The DA has called on communications minister Faith Muthambi to lift the veil of secrecy around the placing of orders for 1.5 million set-top boxes (STBs) from three suppliers.
This is the first phase of providing 5 million free STBs and antennas to poor households as part of South Africa’s migration to digital broadcasting.
“My call last week to Muthambi, to clarify the status of these orders has gone unheeded,” said Marian Shinn, DA Shadow Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services.
“My request to Zami Nkosi, CEO of the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (Usaasa) which is managing the STB project, to confirm three names industry sources have provided me has also gone unanswered.”
Nkosi told ITWeb that 1.5 million STBs have been ordered and that production began at the end of August, but would not name who was producing them.
One of the assumed winning bidders, BUA Africa, declined to confirm receipt of an order from Usaasa.
“This is taxpayers’ money, so there must be full transparency on how it is being spent and who is securing the orders for each component of the free STB project.”
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