SA’s chronically delayed digital migration project is in legal limbo again after Communications Minister Faith Muthambi applied this week for leave to appeal against a judgment setting aside her policy on the matter. The Mercury reports this means the project to convert terrestrial television broadcasting in the country from an analogue signal to a digital one is likely to take even longer. Muthambi’s decision to prevent the government decoders – which are to be provided free to 5m poor households – from being able to receive an encrypted signal was set aside in the SCA last month, following an application by e.tv. But acting DG of Communications Norman Munzhelele argues in an affidavit in support of the application to the Constitutional Court that as the issue of digital m igration – and specifically whether or not to provide for encryption – had been debated for years before Muthambi’s policy amendment and the views of all stakeholders had been stated numerous times, it was not necessary for her to consult them again.

Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)

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