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Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002)

Notices

Severe Electricity Supply Constraint

Directions regarding the Communications and Digital Technologies Sector

3. Directions to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa

 

3.1 The Minister directs the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (the “Authority”), to urgently consider the following interventions:
(a) Require electronic communications service and electronic communications network service licensees that are mobile network operators and broadcasting service licensees to issue public service announcements on the national state of disaster, at no cost to the user, after consultation with the Government Communications and Information System;
(b) consult with electronic communications service, electronic communications network service and broadcasting service licensees on what constitutes critical electronic communications and broadcasting infrastructure and make recommendations to the Minister, to enable the Minister to inform the relevant Cabinet member regarding the granting of exemptions from load-shedding or reduced load shedding, as contemplated in regulation 5(1)(b) of the Disaster Regulations; and
(c) consult with electronic communications service, electronic communications network service and broadcasting service licensees on regulatory obligations that could be relaxed for the purposes of giving effect to the objects set out in the Disaster Regulations and make recommendations to the Minister, to enable the Minister to consider further directions to the Authority.

 

3.2 The Minister further directs that the Authority’s approach in respect of the consultation contemplated in paragraph 3.1(b) and (c) should be guided by—
(a) a consideration of the degree to which compliance with regulatory obligations by licensees is dependent upon access to a consistent electricity supply;
(b) measures necessary to effectively deal with the direct or indirect effects of the disaster; or
(c) measures necessary to assist in preventing the escalation of the electricity supply constraints or in reducing its impact.

 

3.3 The Authority is requested to assess the impact of the interventions contemplated herein following its implementation, in order to make recommendations to the Minister on further actions required.