![\"Neotel](\"http:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Neotel-Vodacom.png\")
<\/a>Vodacom in talks to buy Neotel<\/p><\/div>\n
Vodacom wants Neotel<\/h3>\n
As South Africa’s mobile giants scrape the barrel of available spectrum to roll out their LTE services, the operators have started fishing in other pools for the much sought-after resource.<\/p>\n
In May 2013, MyBroadband reported that, according to a number of sources, fibre operator, Neotel was in the cross-hairs of some big players in the telecoms space – including Vodacom, MTN and Dimension Data – as a target for acquisition.<\/p>\n
At the time, all parties involved dismissed the speculation – but in September 2013, Vodacom and Neotel came out and admitted that they were in talks over a high-profile buyout that is said to be worth as much as R10 billion.<\/p>\n
According to analysts, the partnership between Vodacom and Neotel would place the former in a much stronger position and a full-service, converged operator, while also, in theory, giving the operator access to valuable spectrum.<\/p>\n
However, at last call, Neotel CEO Sunil Joshi indicated that a conclusion of the deal would be as much as 6 months off – while possible competition complaints and regulations surrounding what happens to the spectrum should the deal go ahead, remain untested.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, MTN, who reportedly dropped out of Neotel negotiations early, is rumoured to be in “sensitive” talks with Telkom over some unspecified deal – an indication that the South African mobile landscape is in for an interesting 2014.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Dina Pule<\/p><\/div>\n
Pule’s plight comes to the fore<\/h3>\n
Former minister of communications, Dina Pule was axed from her position in a Cabinet reshuffle in July 2013.<\/p>\n
The move by President Jacon Zuma to remove Pule was not unexpected, as controversy and allegations of corruption and mismanagement had been following her since the Sunday Times first reported that there was a direct link between the Communications Minister\u2019s Christian Louboutin shoes and the missing millions of the ICT Indaba.<\/p>\n
It was later revelaed that Pule’s boyfriend, Phosane Mngqibisa (whom Pule denied she was involved with) had gained financially from the Indaba – and the two had been on a number of expensive “official” trips together.<\/p>\n
What followed the relevations was like something out of a spy novel, as Pule and the DoC refuted claims made against her, claiming that the Sunday Times was blackmailing her – though no evidence was brought forward to support the claims.<\/p>\n
Further, once Pule’s case was brought before the Parliamentary Ethics Committee, further reports came out implicating the discgraced minister in an alleged assassination plot, where claims were made by a man who said he was hired by Mngqibisa to arrange the murder of the committee\u2019s chairman, Ben Turok, and registrar, Fazela Mohamed.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the ethics committee found that Pule had betrayed her oath of office and brought Parliament into disrepute – and was slapped with a fine, a public reprimand and 30-day suspension, before being re-deployed in the transport portfolio.<\/p>\n
In her response to the punishment, Pule said that she gave the best she could: \u201cIf in the course of me doing my job I made a mistake, I am sorry, I apologise.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a>Wayne Duvenage says no to e-tags<\/p><\/div>\n
E-tolls, e-tags and e-hate<\/h3>\n
One of the biggest and most controversial news items in 2013 is actually an issue over three years in the making.<\/p>\n
While the fight against e-tolling has been going on for almost 2 years in the courts, it was 3 December 2013 which saw the Gauteng tolling system finally go live – and the topic was – and is – hot on everyone’s lips.<\/p>\n
In September 2012, the Constitutional Court set aside the interim order won by Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (Out) to have the roll-out of e-tolling stopped. In the following December, the High Court in Pretoria dismissed Outa\u2019s application to scrap e-tolling.<\/p>\n
In January 2013, however, Outa was granted leave to take the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein – which it subsequently lost, much to the dismay of motorists all over Gauteng, signalling the beginning of the end of “free” being a part of Gauteng’s “freeways”.<\/p>\n
In the months following the lost court battle, political parties and civil organisations all took to the airwaves and social channels in opposition to the system – but ultimately the challenges fell on deaf ears.<\/p>\n
President Jacob Zuma hastily passed the e-tolling bill into law, giving Sanral the full weight of support it needed to launch the system. Opposition to the system is still going strong – led by opposition party, the DA – but, for now, e-tolling is here to stay.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Telkom<\/p><\/div>\n
Telkom turns over a new leaf (?)<\/h3>\n
Telkom is in the process of the biggest turnaround the South African business community has ever seen. At least, that’s if you take to heart the words of Telkom CEO, Sipho Maseko, who took over the role (after denying any association with the company) in April this year.<\/p>\n
During the course of 2013, Telkom has seen a lot of changes – in terms of both services and management – with the rolling out of its next-generation “super fast” VDSL networks, and the appointment and exits of high-level managerial staff.<\/p>\n
Additionally, Telkom made a few moves to rectify some shadows of its past, through reaching a settlment with the competition commission which saw the operator add a R200 million penalty to the R449 million fine it already owed for abusing its dominance in the broadband market.<\/p>\n
On top of that, Telkom also committed to a 6 month audit, to assure the Commission and the market that it has turned a new leaf, along with a number of proce reductions which started rolling out in the latter part of the year.<\/p>\n
However, despite the changes for the positive, Telkom hasn’t been without controversy – with CFO, Jacques Schindehutte, being suspended over an unspecified matter involving his conduct – while a spat with ISP, MWeb, involving tariffs could see the telco facing a renewed competition commission complaint.<\/p>\n
Add to that a continued decline in fixed-lines, and a mobile arm that’s dragging on the company’s finances, there may yet be a long road to travel for the telco, as it moves towards its turnaround.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Government security<\/p><\/div>\n
Free State, Joburg website blunders<\/h3>\n
The City of Joburg and the Free State saw two massive blunders in the digital space in 2013.<\/p>\n
While the former overlooked a security hole which allowed anyone to access private information contained in digital bills, the latter found itself in the spotlight for building what appears to be a run-of-the-mill website for a whopping R120 million.<\/p>\n
In the City of Joburg case, it was revealed by MyBroadband that Internet users could easily view the utility bill of other Joburg residents through altering numerical text in the site URL.<\/p>\n
Despite being told of the security flaw by the user who brought the matter to the media’s attention, the City of Joburg’s response was to take the website down – and then chase after “hackers” by launching a criminal case against an unknown perpetrator.<\/p>\n
The case is still ongoing.<\/p>\n
The Free State also saw some website blunders in 2013, when the Free State government signed a three year deal to redesign its site – which cost the state somewhere in excess of R120 million.<\/p>\n
According to web developers quoted by AfriForum, “even the most expensive, extensive, and interactive websites with strict security functions should not be more expensive than a few hundred thousand rand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela is currently investigating the matter.<\/p>\n
More on the year’s biggest news<\/h3>\n
Vodacom-Neotel deal six months away<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Fight against e-toll has just begun<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Telkom to release spectrum<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n