Mixed reaction to Zuma's Padayachie move

President Jacob Zuma's decision to redeploy communications minister Roy Padayachie and his deputy, Obed Bapela, has drawn mixed reaction from the information and communications technology industry, with one analyst saying he was "stunned" by the move and that it would delay several important projects, including the migration to digital terrestrial television.

By Duncan McLeod & Craig Wilson

25 Oct 2011

Denis Smit, MD of technology consulting firm BMI-TechKnowledge, says he is "shocked" that Zuma decided to redeploy both the minister and his deputy, saying the changes will inevitably result in delays to crucial projects, including digital migration and the allocation of new radio frequency spectrum needed by telecommunications operators to build next-generation wireless broadband networks.

Zuma has named a former deputy communications minister, Dina Pule, who served under Padayachie's predecessor, Siphiwe Nyanda, to lead the ministry. At the same time, he has sent Padayachie's deputy, Obed Bapela, to the presidency and appointed Stella Tembisa Ndabeni, an ANC MP, as Bapela's successor. According to political news site The Daily Maverick, Ndabeni is regarded as a "committed enemy" of ANC Youth League president Julius Malema.

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About the author

Award-wining Duncan McLeod is the founder and editor of [[wwwTechCentral.co.za]], South Africa's latest technology news site offering breaking news, in-depth analysis and opinion that launched in September 2009 (follow [[http://twitter.com/TechCentral @TechCentral]] on Twitter). Before that, he was associate editor at the Financial Mail/FM. Contact Duncan on email duncan at techcentral dot co dot za and follow him on Twitter at [[@mcleodd]].

Craig Wilson is an ICT journalist and speaker based in Johannesburg. He currently works as a senior journalist at TechCentral, the South African source for technology news, reviews and opinion, and regularly provides insight into the technology industry for radio and television. Email him at [[craig@techcentral.co.za]], follow [[@craigwilson]] on Twitter and connect on [[za.linkedin.com/in/craigwilsonnet LinkedIn]].