20 GOVERNMENT No.GAZETTE, 23708 i i c t No. 25, 2002 2002 2 AUGUST ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSACTIONS ACT, 2002 may conduct research into and keep abreast of developmentsrelevant to electronic communications and transactions in the Republic and internationally; must continually survey and evaluate the extent to which the objectivesofthe achieved; been have e-strategy national 5 may liaise, consult and cooperate with public bodies, the private sector or any other person; and may, in consultation with the Ministerof Finance, appoint experts and other consultants on such conditions as the Minister may determine. (4) (a) TheMinistermust, in consultationwithothermembers of theCabinet, 10 determinethesubjectmatters to be addressedinthenationale-strategyand the principles that must govern the implementation thereof. (b) Prior to prescribing any subject matter and principles provided for in paragraph (a), the Minister must invite comments from all'interested parties by notice in the received. commentsany consider Gazette and 15 (c) The national e-strategy must, amongst others, set outthe electronic transactions strategy of the Republic, distinguishing between regional, national, continental and international strategies; programmes andmeanstoachieveuniversalaccess,humanresource development anddevelopment of SMMEsas providedforinthisPart; 20 programmes and means to promote the overall readiness of the Republic in respect of electronic transactions; ways to promote the Republic as a preferred provider and user of electronic transactions in the international market; existing government initiatives directly or indirectly relevant to or impacting 25 on the national e-strategy and, if applicable, how such initiatives are to be utilised in attaining the objectives of the national e-strategy; the role expected to be performed by the private sector in the implementation of the national e-strategy and how government can solicit the participationof role; such perform to sector private the 30 the defined objectives, including time frames within which the objectivesare to be achieved; and the resources required to achieve the objectives provided for in the national e-strategy. (5) Upon approval by the Cabinet, the Minister must publish the national e-strategy in35 the Gazette. (6) For purposes of achieving the objectives of the national e-strategy, the Minister may, in consultation with the Ministerof Finance(a) procure funding from sources other than the State; (6) allocate fundsforimplementation of the national e-strategy tosuch 40 institutions and persons as are responsible for delivery in ofterms the national e-strategy and supervise the executionof their mandate; and (c) take any stepsnecessary to enableallrelevantparties to carryouttheir respective obligations. (7) The Minister mustannually report to the Cabinet on progress made and objectives45 achieved or outstanding and may includeany other matter the Minister deems relevant. (8) The Minister must annually review the national e-strategy and where necessary make amendments thereto in consultation with all relevant members of the Cabinet. (9) No amendment oradaptation of thenationale-strategyiseffectiveunless by approved 50 (10) The Ministermust publish any material revisionof the national e-strategy in the Gazette. ( I 1) The Minister must table an annual report in Parliament regarding the progress made in the implementation of the national e-strategy. Universal access 6. In respect of universal access, the national e-strategy must outline strategies and programmes to- 55