[17 June 2024] mybroadband.co.za has published updated advice on blocking WASP or content services on your handset: Vodacom SMS Send an SMS containing “STOP ALL” to 31050: If you are subscribed to WASP services, you should receive a response indicating that your request to unsubscribe has been received. You should then receive messages confirming that [...]
[7 November 2023] ICASA has initiated the process for collecting the data for the 2023 State of the ICT Sector Report, which will cover the period 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023. The timelines involved are as follows: Date Activity 6 November – 30 November 2023 Questionnaire completed by industry 1 December – 19 [...]
[5 July 2023] The Information Regulator is in receipt of a proposed code of conduct from the Direct Marketing Association of Southern Africa (DMASA), dealing with how personal information will be processed in the Direct Marketing Industry.
[3 January 2022] On 10 December 2021 the South African Revenue Service (SARS) published a public notice prescribing the particulars that must be included in a tax invoice where there is a supply of electronic services. VAT Act Particulars that tax invoice must contain if supply by a vendor relates to electronic services ___ [18 [...]
[9 April 2021] ICASA has published the final Code for Persons with Disabilities Regulations, 2021 which will come into force 18 months from the date of publication in the Gazette (10 October 2022). Code for Persons with Disabilities Regulations, 2021 Code for Persons with Disabilities Regulations, 2021 - Reasons Document ___ [24 July 2020] ICASA [...]
[19 December 2018] The Maintenance Act has been amended and section 7 came into effect on the 5th of January 2018. Under section 7 where a maintenance court – upon application made by a maintenance officer – is satisfied that all reasonable efforts to locate the whereabouts of a person have failed it may issue [...]
[16 November 2018] The Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services, following a number of deliberations on the Bill has recommended that the redrafted Bill be adopted by the House. The Bill has been amended to strengthen the governance and management arrangements of the Institute, and the title amended to more accurately reflect the nature [...]
[2 September 2018] The National Gambling Amendment Bill [B27-2018] was introduced into the Portfolio Committee for Trade and Industry on 21 August 2018. Of interest to Internet service providers and related industries are two new proposed provisions to be inserted into the National Gambling Act: Proposed subsection 8(4) sets out a prohibition on “a person” providing [...]
[28 May 2018] The ICT SMME Development Strategy is a sector specific intervention to address challenges facing SMMEs operating in the ICT sector. It sets the policy context and defines the vision for the development of the ICT SMMEs in South Africa up to 2020, and outlines the support mechanisms required to realise this vision. [...]
[10 November 2017] The Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services has published further, extensive amendments to the Alternative Dispute Resolution Regulations. ECTA Regulations - Alternative Dispute Resolution - Amendment __ [12 December 2015] This proposed amendment has now been effected. Amendment of Alternative Dispute Resolution Regulations Regulation 2 of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Regulations issued [...]
[15 October 2016] As presented to the Portfolio Committee for Telecommunications and Postal Services on 13 October 2016. Broadband Infraco Annual Report 2015/16 Presentation of Broadband Infraco Annual Report 2015/16 __ [3 October 2015] Presentations made to the Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services indicate that some form of intervention by its shareholders - [...]
[18 May 2016] The South African Civil Aviation Authority (“SACAA”) maintain a database of obstacles in proximity to runways, and have a set of guidelines and regulations governing this area. Should a service provider need to erect such a structure there is a relevant application form for the approval of obstacles, which can be completed [...]
[2 February 2016] The Women's Legal Centre has published A Simplified Guide to the Protection from Harassment Act - if you are experiencing what is or what you think is harassment, this is an excellent place to start. ___ [30 May 2013] The Protection from Harassment Act 17 of 2011 ("the PFHA") came into force on [...]
[30 September 2015] Notice has been given of public hearings to be held regarding the Position Paper and Draft Regulations on South African Local Content: Television and Radio (see lower on for links). The hearings are scheduled for 1 and 2 October 2015. Notice of Public Hearings - Dates and Agenda ICASA Is Convening Public [...]
[2 September 2015] Doing basic parental control of the content available on a mobile phone in South Africa is really simple. Unless you use Cell C or Telkom Mobile, in which case you will need to use a third party provider. There is really no excuse for not taking this most basic of measures if [...]
[12 August 2015] The Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013 came into force on 9 August 2015. The stated purpose of this Act is to give effect to the Republic’s obligations concerning the trafficking of persons in terms of international agreements; to provide for an offence of trafficking in persons and [...]
[16 June 2020] The President of the Republic has returned the Copyright Amendment Bill [B13B-2017] and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill [B24B-2016] to the National Assembly for consideration of the President’s reservations about their constitutionality. President Letter to Parliament re Copyright Amendment Bill 16 June 2020 ___ [10 August 2015] The Department of Trade and [...]
[8 August 2015] The Deputy-Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services – Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize during a speech at the ICT Achievers Awards 2015 Media Launch – provided information on the 2012 Information and Communication Technology satellite account which was released during the first quarter of 2015.This satellite account provides an overview of the role that ICT [...]
[25 July 2015] The Minister of health has gazetted a Notice establishing a Ministerial Advisory Committee on e-Health and setting out its composition, functions, working procedure and the remuneration and allowances payable to its members. Establishment of Ministerial Advisory Committee on e-Health The Notice specifies the following definition of "e-Health": "e- Health" means the combined [...]
[10 November 2014] We are informed that the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services handed over the doc.gov.za domain to the new Department of Communications effective 7 November 2014. Nominations should accordingly be sent to eadom@dtps.gov.za / zsibiya@dtps.gov.za. __ [3 November 2014] The Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services has invited the public to submit nominations for members [...]
[8 October 2014] ICASA has withdrawn the Findings Document published in GG 36537 on 7 June 2013. No reasons for the withdrawal have been advanced. Withdrawal Findings Document Broadcasting Transmission Services 3 October 2014 __ [10 June 2013] ICASA has published its Findings Document to close off its Inquiry into Broadcasting Transmission Services. Findings Document [...]
[26 September 2014] ICASA has published draft Inquiry Prescribed Form Regulations for comment. Catchy title aside, the intention of the draft regulations is simply to prescribe the form which ICASA can use if it requires any person to provide information or to appear before it during the conduct of an inquiry under section 4B of [...]
[29 June 2014] Here is some simple advice on lodging a criminal complaint with SAPS if you are the victim of a cybercrime. Depending on which station you are reporting to you may have wildly-contrasting experiences - remember that patience and politeness are the most likely strategies to advance your own interests. Suggested process Draft as [...]
[3 June 2014] Our view on this judgement (external link) as expressed in an op-ed for Business Day. ‘Right to forget’ judgment will require careful balancing acts (external link to Business Day, may require free registration to view)
[16 March 2014] The University of the Witwatersrand, with the support and sponsorship of Microsoft SA, is hosting a national Colloquium on Cybersecurity in the Public Sector. This is intended to be a national discussion where pertinent government decision-makers, academics from Wits and other universities, and a number of prominent private sector participants will deliberate on the [...]
[25 June 2013] The Final Report in ICASA's Review of the Broadcasting Regulatory Framework towards a Digitally Converged Environment was published on 25 June 2013. The Conclusions section is set out below: Final Report on Review of Broadcasting Regulatory Framework June 2013 ___ 5 PART D: CONCLUSION 5.1 This broadcasting regulatory review process has resulted in [...]
The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) applies to ISPs, and if an ISP’s contracts or its processes do not comply with the CPA’s rather onerous provisions, this can have painful consequences. Annoyingly, the CPA will apply to an ISP’s smaller clients, but most of it will not apply to corporate clients. If an ISP wishes to [...]
There has been confusion for a long time as to whether or not a Line Maintenance Organisation (LMO) licence was required in order for an entity to connect a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) to Telkom's telecommunications network. Telkom's insistence on the production of an LMO licence prior to the installation of a software-based PBX taking [...]
ICASA recently released Handset Regulations governing primarily the relationship between cellular providers and their subscribers. The regulations were to come into force on 18 August 2008 but this date has been postponed after Vodacom indicated they would apply for an interdict preventing the implementation of the regulations - ICASA Media Release (ICASA website). Vodacom denied [...]