DOC defends Sentech

THE DEPARTMENT of Communications (DOC) has defended Sentech's investment in the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) cable.

DR SEBILETSO MOKONE-MATABANE

This followed the Democratic Alliance's lam-basting of government for allowing two separate state-owned businesses to invest in two different undersea cable projects. The slow starter of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), Broadband Infraco, has a stake in the West African Cable System.

The DOC says it sees little wrong with the additional investment made by Sentech.

The DA is concerned that Sentech has overstretched its mandate to invest in the ACE cable and has queried where the funding has come from. As the troubled business's main stakeholder, the DOC is responsible for Sentech's budget. However, the department did not respond to ITWeb's question as to how Sentech planned to fund its investment in the incoming cable. Sentech has also not indicated where it will find the money to land the cable in Cape Town.