As President Jacob Zuma’s reshuffled post-election Cabinet knuckles down to business and new ministers and their deputies get to grips with their new portfolios, South Africa’s ICT industry is still trying to wrap its collective head around the radical restructuring of one of the country’s most crucial ministries – communications.

Historically, the Department of Communications (DOC) was considered a key branch of national government, responsible for the administration of nationally-strategic state-owned entities such as the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), the South African Post Office (SAPO) and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).