There is “no precise date” for the start-up of the second national operator (SNO) — which will compete with the semi-privatised state telephone operator Telkom, says Minister of Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin.
Speaking at a briefing on behalf of economic cluster ministers — beamed from Pretoria to Parliament in Cape Town — Erwin said such matters as the shareholders’ agreement and business plan are being discussed.
But, he said, the government is pleased with the progress made thus far.
In February this year, Tata Africa, Tata International India’s investment arm in Africa, won the 26% stake in the entity owning 51% of South Africa’s SNO.
Other shareholders are Eskom’s Esitel, Transnet’s Transtel, Nexus Connexion, CommuniTel and the Two Consortium.
The economics cluster departments’ programme of action document for 2005 notes that four committees set up to deal with shareholders agreements, the business plan, valuation and transfer of state-owned enterprise assets, are planning to complete their work “as soon as possible”. — I-Net Bridge