To be frank, I’m not entirely sure whether I’m more surprised at president Jacob Zuma’s new choice of communications minister, or industry’s wish-washy reaction to yet another dark horse, who’s ability to lead the one of the country’s most crucial ministries is impossible to gauge at this time.

On second thoughts, the appointment of Yunus Carrim" rel=tag>Yunus Carrim, who replaces the recently-axed Dina Pule" rel=tag>Dina Pule, is not all that baffling. It’s simply a political appointment as Zuma fortifies his position ahead of next year’s elections. Let’s not forget presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj’s arrogant retort that Zuma is under no obligation to explain his latest Cabinet shuffle, which speaks volumes about our democratic dictatorship. Miss the good old days – Berlin, 1936 – much, Mac?

However, what is most befuddling is the insipid response from industry players and observers, whose child-like optimism and naivety is touching, if not somewhat disturbing.

Perhaps the ICT sector is simply happy to see a new communications minister – regardless who it is – following the prolonged Pule debacle, or perhaps hope does spring eternal, or perhaps no one has the testicular fortitude to question the fuehrer.

Whatever it is, commentators seem content to place their confidence in Carrim simply based on the fact that his tasks – many of which require urgent attention – are clearly defined, so he simply needs to get on with it. But this sounds like desperately clutching at straws.

I certainly agree that what needs to be done is clear – it’s hard to miss the huge pile of crap left by Carrim’s predecessors. But can he and will he be more deadly than those who came before him? That remains to be seen. But I’m not holding my breath, simply due to the law of large numbers.

Carrim is Zuma’s fourth minister of communications, and the three who came before him achieved little and, in some case, left a legacy of mismanagement, wastage and ineptitude.

Some of the urgent matters that the new guy will have to tackle include migration to digital terrestrial television, local loop unbundling, re-drafting the national ICT policy, implementing a “watered down” National Broadband Policy framework and stabilisation of the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s board and management structure.

And while issues need to be attended to with some urgency, Carrim – now a few weeks into his tenure – is yet to announce any sort of plan.

Well, perhaps it’s time the ICT sector grows a pair and finds a voice. Let’s face it, we can ill afford to “wait and see” how the new minister turns out. Perhaps it’s time to demand that government starts taking ICT seriously and not just pay it lip service, because one day soon it might be too late to turn this ship around.

Happy reading!

Martin Czernowalow