Post Office best suited for E-Commerce transactions
The Post Office is to become the preferred authentication service provider in terms of the Electronic Communications and Transaction Bill, adopted by Parliament’s communications committee yesterday.
The bill is intended to promote the use of e-commerce by establishing a legislative framework for electronic transactions, as well as for the authentication of electronic signatures.
The committee felt the Post Office had the infrastructure and geographic spread to act as a preferred authentication service provider. It would act in this capacity particularly for government, but also for the public.
Committee chairman Nkenke Kekana said the Post Office’s preferential status would not preclude the registration of other authentication service providers. The committee had rejected a proposal to give the Post Office exclusivity in this regard.
Kekana said giving the Post Office this preferred status would also secure its entrance into the electronic transaction environment, which is vital to secure its future viability.
In the interests of greater security, the committee has decided to require face-to-face identification for the purposes of accrediting signatures for use in electronic transactions.
Another amendment agreed to will require Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri to have finalised a national electronics strategy within the next three years, or by the end of the term of the current government, instead of the five years provided for in the original draft.
