My primary purpose is now, and always has been, to foster the development of the Internet in South Africa. And let us take a good hard look at the issue. During my time as administrator, a task for which I am not paid, the ZA domain has grown from a small research and academic entity to where it is now. I endeavour to the best of my ability to follow consistent rules, protocols and standards and I am heartened that I have had no serious dissension over any of my decisions. The system functions. However, I have for some years been trying to find an acceptable alternative administrator so that I can relinquish the task. That is why Namespace was formed under the auspices of the South African Chapter of the Internet Society, with my full approval, especially as it invited government to be represented. Governments proposed take-over of the process regrettably have interrupted the procedures for Namespace to become the new administrator.

Something to be borne in mind is that the function of administering a domain name is fundamentally technical and not discretionary or arbitrary. The administration must and can be done at minimal cost to users, which is vital in South Africa where we would like to see as many low-income people as possible have access to the Internet. A large bureaucracy is unnecessary and undesirable. It is particularly undesirable for decisions relating to domain names to be politically motivated, which would not only compromise the efficient functioning of the system but also jeopardise the relationship with ICANN, the ultimate decision-maker. The primary requirements for proper administration are neutrality, technical efficiency, and a fundamental understanding of the functioning of the Internet. It would be extremely unusual to find these qualities in a politically appointed body.

Another factor that has not emerged at all clearly from the discussions is that language, culture and any other local factor that one may think of, is easily dealt with in the domain name process as long as it can be accommodated within internationally accepted standards, rules and protocols. Political, community, special interest or other non- technical involvement in the administration is not necessary to bring this about.

The proposed legislation on the domain name issue contained in the Electronic Communications and Transactions Bill currently before parliament fills me with concern because the motivation appears to be based on a host of misconceptions. Much of the discussion has everything to do with politics and nothing to do with the proper functioning of the Internet. I am not convinced that political appointees will take proper care of the administrative function, a view shared with other Internet experts in South Africa. Government officials have a tendency to aspire to the very monopoly powers they criticise so harshly when they appear to exist anywhere in the private sector. As no deleterious monopoly can continue without government support, it is significant that South Africas problematical monopolies are all created by statute. Those who accuse me of being a monopolist are not basing their arguments on standard monopoly theory. I therefore ignore the intended slight, as I have been an unpaid servant of the Internet community for ten years. I cannot work out how this makes me a monopolist.

As a concerned citizen who was intimately involved in bringing the Internet to South Africa I question the moral right of our democratic government to usurp the privately conducted function of administrator of the ZA domain. Is it right for the government to attempt to take away, with the stroke of a pen, a self-imposed administrative duty that one of its citizens has performed with dedication for many years? It may be legal, but it certainly does not feel right? It smacks of unnecessary misuse of political power in the democracy we all wish to see grant its citizens greater and not reduced freedoms.

Government was long ago asked to participate in oversight of the domain name function but declined to do so. Now it wishes to dominate the process. I believe there is a middle ground that will satisfy everyone, including myself. All that is necessary is for the matter to be sorted out by friendly and co-operative negotiating without any party trying to be prescriptive or dominate the proceedings.

What must also be remembered is that the final say over who will administer the ZA domain does not rest with me. It rests with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Legislation adopted in South Africa cannot compel ICANN to accept an administrator that is not acceptable to the broad Internet community in South Africa. I therefore urge government not to act in an authoritarian manner on this issue. Let us work this matter out together so that we can find a solution that is acceptable to all. Allow me to hand over the task to a competent replacement and I will gratefully retire as I have wished to do for some time now.