South Africa is missing a trick or ten, thanks to our silo policy approach to broadcast and broadband.

You may have thought these two realms, which share the character of being "broad" - and more importantly, will share a digital character sooner rather than later, were a natural for convergent treatment.

While still in office as Minister of Communications, the late Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri initiated a process to review legislation around the SABC. This was in the face of the political conflict around the CEO and the Board, and pre-dated the economic crisis at the corporation. The then suddenly pro-Zuma Parliament didn't wait on the processes of an Mbeki-ministerial appointee, but decided to act to remove the Mbeki-approved board (which they themselves had recommended before he lost power at Polokwane).

The government's Department of Communications has done well to revive the 1990s tradition of consultative policy development, with its recent discussion paper on the future of public broadcasting"
The Department has publicised pretty well the opportunity to respond to the 67 (not kidding!) questions raised in the paper, and it has also held physical stakeholder meetings around the country.