The sheer buggery of it

ITWeb reports “a consumer protection body created by the CPA is ready to force mobile operators to allow SA's 10 million subscribers to carry over minutes and data bundles for three years, getting rid of the current “use-it-or-lose it” policy.

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) says the Act's provision that vouchers can only expire once fully used, or after three years, applies to data bundles and the so-called free minutes that are sold with contract packages.

However, despite the three-year rule, call centre staff are telling subscribers that bundled free minutes can be carried over for a maximum of six months, while data can only be rolled over for two.

SA's largest mobile operators will not officially clarify when bundled minutes and data expire, or whether they will comply with the commission's standpoint.

Instead, the operators argue, clarity will be provided after the Independent Communication Authority of SA's (ICASA's) exemption application – to have some parts of the Act fall under its jurisdiction – is finalised.

The CPA, which came into effect on 1 April, states a “prepaid certificate, card, credit, voucher or similar device” does not expire unless it has been redeemed, or until three years after the date of issue.

Arthur Goldstuck, MD of World Wide Worx, says

It took the networks years before they allowed data to be carried over for just a month,

 “They've turned deaf ears to the criticism that they are in effect creaming a huge proportion off the top of customer payments for bundled services.”

I like most of you, am a “data bundle” user.

I can never determine what portion of my “bundle” I will use.

In fact, when the time comes to “lose” my remaining data bundle, do I do a “bundle dump”?

Here’s the thing, I pay for the data bundle, and it’s mine. Why if I don’t use it within a predetermined time should I lose it?

Apart from the pure muggery of it, I am equally concerned with the attitude of the mobile operators.

It seems to me they are displaying the same complete disregard for the rules as those that have come to make ignoring norms and values a national sport.

From the Board through management and stakeholders such as employees and shareholders, these operators are populated by citizens who have families.

In fact the beneficiaries of these operators largess must run into the tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people, people who will be quick to bleat about this abuse or that abuse of State, or this or that level of crime or disregard for the law on the part of Government.

They are the first to shout about an injustice against them, loudly.

“Someone must act to stop the corruption”, “someone must stop the crime”, “someone must do something about healthcare” etc.

Always “someone”... someone else yes!

I’ve asked the question before, how is it we shout so loudly about corruption and crime, when we are happy as a society to live with the perpetrators in our families and in our communities.

It seems we only moan about the buggery of our society when we aren’t the beneficiaries of the proceeds?

The underlying greed that underpins the pursuit of profit supersedes all logic or sense of fair and equitable.

Protecting the bottom line at all costs and then making an entire organisation complicit in your attempts to deny the rights of tens of millions is nefarious to say the least and is as odious as any Politician or government employee taking a bribe or violating procurement processes.

Look, I generally just grin and bear it. I have many fires to put out and battles to wage. I can afford to write off R50 or R60 or R100 worth of data bundle.

The thing is, I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth, in fact, I got the wooden spoon.

I feel deeply connected with anyone fighting for their piece of sunshine, so when I think about how important data communication is today and value inherent in the access to information this affords I naturally think about the millions for whom R50, or R60 or R100 worth of data means the difference between empowerment, or disenfranchisement, success or failure.

The mobile operator’s stance as set out in the ITWeb article is repugnant, reprehensible and morally corrupt.

I have a word of advice for the mobile operators and all the beneficiaries of their profits, the next time you find yourself on the receiving end of an injustice, of a violation of your rights, do me a favour, put up or shut up.

Don’t use my Fraud Report Hotline and stop expecting “someone else” to defend you or protect you when you’re shafted.

Bleating about your rights as a “tax payer” does not absolve you of your duty to be human beings?

There are hundreds of thousand of subscribers in essential services that rely on your service, that pay to stay in communication out their own pockets, if not for me, for them, show some class man and demonstrate at the minimum good corporate citizenship by complying with the reasonable request to let people own what you sell them and use it when they want.

Loopy da Duisberg loop

This week I read the Sunday Times story, “Another bomb drops on the dodgy arms deal”, I assimilated and digested but didn’t seem to learn anything.

I discovered a few new titbits, but learn, nope?

That got me thinking, what’s the purpose of reading all these damned depressing news articles or the papers at all?

I decided to justify the sheer waste of my remaining time on earth to try justifying what has always been a favourite pastime, reading the papers, by trying at least to suck some juice from the information I was “assimilating”.

According to the prescient article, in terms of the strategic defence package signed on December 3, 1999, BAE/Saab incurred an offset obligation under NIPP.

The NIPP programme, administered by the dti, required any state purchase in excess of US10 million from firms selling foreign products to effectively reinvest in South Africa.

BAE/Saab, who supplied the 24 Hawk and 26 Gripen fighter jets, were obliged, in terms of the contract, to reinvest a total of US7.2 billion in South Africa by 2011.

Apparently the dti is responsible for monitoring the NIPP.

Two reports commissioned by the dti suggested that there were problems relating to BAE/Saab's compliance with the NIPP.

A report, prepared by SAB&T Chartered Accountants, relating to BAE/Saab's involvement in a defence department demilitarisation project, found that 'government was not getting ‘optimal value', while another report, prepared by NAD Auditors, relating to BAE/Saab's involvement in Denel Saab Aerostructures, suggests that there was a failure to meet 'key performance areas'."

I guess this is information designed to inform, not to instruct or teach.

Usually one needs to be kept informed to enable objective decision making, assuming a decision is expected or required.

When it comes to the arms deal I’m not sure what the point is because there has been neither decisive expectation nor requirement it seems, from Government at least and more than half the South African population?

I figure if BAE/Saab, who were obliged, in terms of the contract, to reinvest a total of US7.2 billion in South Africa there must be some evidence of this and visited the BAE website in search of some information in this regard.

I found an article, a Press Release, “The BAE Systems-Aerosud strategic alliance forms part of the reciprocal Industrial Participation programme flowing directly from South Africas procurement of Hawk and Gripen fighters from the UK defence and aerospace group and its Swedish partner, Saab.”

Ah, evidence of the much vaunted NIPP, yes.

Aerosud, a South African company were involved in manufacturing the Rooivalk attack helicopter and hold deals worth hundreds of millions from various foreign defence companies.

Airbus Military spokesman Linden Birns confirmed that Aerosud, along with Denel-SAAB Aerostructures are full industrial partners in the A400M project.

ANC heavyweight and Speaker of the National Assembly Max Sisulu held shares in a multimillion-rand defence and aerospace company which is set to make a killing out of the controversial R47-billion deal to purchase eight Airbus A400M transport planes.

Sisulu, along with Jackie Mufamadi, “the wife of the former local government minister”, and Herman Mashaba, a tycoon entrepeneur are listed as shareholders of the company along with Foreign Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa and Titus Mafolo (Thabo Mbeki’s former presidential adviser).

These esteemed leaders held the shares in Aerosud through a company called Phatsima Aviation.

The Chairman of Aerosud is none other than Defence Minister Joe Modise’s wife.

The Industrial Development Corporation acquired the shares in 2003 when they injected capital into Aerosud.

Shakeel Meer, IDC divisional executive: industrial sectors is quoted as confirming that the shares the corporation had transferred to Phatsima in 2005 had been warehoused for Aerosud, as part of an agreement that the company would undergo a BEE restructuring. 

He said that the IDC did provide funding for the transaction, but said this money was put up by Aerosud. 

So the question is, were these Politicians doled out free shares in arms deal companies on the back of the arms deal?

Maybe they paid for them?

Strange though that the NIPP programme is administered by the dti, and that Phatsima Aviation address happens to be Berea Terrace Office Park, 3 Berea Terrace, Berea 5201, PO Box 19376, Tecoma, East London 5214?

Strange because this is also the address of a company called True Group Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd, a company that targets and provides funding to the niche middle-to upper segment of the SME market.

Strange because Khula Enterprise Finance (Ltd) lists True Group Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd as a Retail Financial Intermediary on their behalf?

Strange because Khula Enterprise Finance (Ltd) is a dti entity?

What’s not so strange is the fact that Aerosud is a cash cow, that in discovered documents in the International Tax Law Institute (ITLI) vs FirstRand matter, Aerosud’s CEO Pierre Dippenaar relied on his boet Laurie’s company to invest some of his moola in a Duisberg loop in the Caymans.

So what does this week’s column have to do with IT?

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