THE INSIDER: Louw and behold, more state lies
The Free Market Foundation’s ICT awareness campaign contains a curious twist
There was a curious twist to the Free Market Foundation’s campaign to draw attention to the government’s proposed new information and communications technology policy, which it believes is yet another attempt at state capture by a small, self-serving cabal. When its executive director and Business Day columnist Leon Louw complained there had not been proper public consultation, Communications Minister Siyabonga Cwele responded that there had been a social and economic impact assessment (SEIA), preceded by a regulatory impact assessment. It so happens that the DA sent a formal request for these documents a year ago in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act that was simply ignored. But constant goading by the Free Market Foundation, pointing out factual errors in what the minister had been saying — implying that he is a liar, essentially — eventually led to a response (published by TechCentral) in which Cwele said the SEIA had actually been on the department’s website all...
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