Communications minister Roy Padayachie has been redeployed as minister of public service & administration. Former deputy communications minister Dina Pule will replace him in the communications portfolio.

At the same time, ANC MP Stella Tembisa Ndabeni has been named as new deputy communications minister, replacing Obed Bapela, who has been named deputy minister in the presidency for performance monitoring and evaluation.

President Jacob Zuma announced the changes on Monday as part of a broad shake-up of the cabinet. The move to replace Padayachie will come as a shock to many in the information and communications technology industry who regarded him as a strong minister who was actively driving change in the sector.

His departure comes as a crucial time as the country begins migrating from analogue to digital terrestrial television and as the industry regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of SA, begins the process of licensing radio frequency spectrum for next-generation wireless broadband services. — Duncan McLeod, TechCentral