{
  "id": 10512300,
  "title": "ANALYSIS: Crossed frequencies — Minister Malatsi and deputy out of sync over SA’s spectrum future",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/analysis-crossed-frequencies-minister-malatsi-and-deputy-out-of-sync",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T19:16:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-09-28-crossed-frequencies-minister-malatsi-and-deputy-out-of-sync-over-sas-spectrum-future/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Communications Minister Solly Malatsi and Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele have been at odds over South Africa's spectrum future. Malatsi issued directives to bypass the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) BEE deadlock and clear the way for Starlink, which was expected to land by December 12, 2025. Gungubele maintained that South Africa always needs more investment in the communications industry, but was not privy to Malatsi's actions at the weekend. The former minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, had initiated a shared wholesale telecommunications network known as the Wireless Open Access Network (Woan), but plans were delayed and officially scrapped before full implementation. Malatsi's decision to release unassigned spectrum back to Icasa for licensing was seen as a move to kill off a failed policy experiment and release trapped national assets into the economy, while enforcing wholesale access and facilities leasing via regulatory oversight.",
  "summary": "Seemingly unbeknownst to his deputy, Communications Minister Solly Malatsi buried the last remnant of Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams’ era at the DCDT on Friday.",
  "key_points": [
    "Minister Malatsi directed bypassing Icasa BEE deadlock for Starlink",
    "Deputy Minister Gungubele opposed Malatsi's actions without knowledge",
    "Ndabeni-Abrahams' Woan network delayed and scrapped before full implementation"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}