This bridges.org report lists 58 information communication technology and information society technology projects undertaken by the private sector and civil society organisations in South Africa. The inventory provides a sample that adequately reflects the trends, current gaps and overlaps in the field.

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Summary

Information and communications technology (ICT) is a vital catalyst for social change and economic development that is increasingly seen as an essential tool for developing countries. The South African Government has recognised the potential benefits to be gained from harnessing the power of ICT and is working to create a technically literate workforce that can contribute to a dynamic economy and participate in the Information Society. The Government identified the need for a comprehensive overview and database of all ICT related initiatives in order to support its activities, ensure greater coherence, develop and refine a more effective national ICT programme and optimise decision-making and the allocation of resources.

In August 2002, Forge Ahead BMI-TechKnowledge was tasked with compiling an initial database of all the Information Communication Technology and Information Society Technology projects in South Africa. This database strongly focused on the many government-related initiatives and provided a valuable input into providing an overview of current developments. In March 2003, bridges.org was approached to add to these resources by focusing on similar projects undertaken by the private sector and civil society organisations. This information has since been used as a resource by the World Resources Institute’s Digital Dividends Clearinghouse, and to inform the Markle Foundation’s policy support to the South African Government on e-strategy.

The following report draws upon and supplements existing research into ICT related initiatives in South Africa that has been sponsored by Hewlett Packard South Africa to support the work of the NEPAD ICT Committee and the NEPAD Business Steering Committee. It is also intended to inform the wider community about these initiatives, as well as gaps in the development arena and areas of duplication. It is important to note that the 58 initiatives identified are not exhaustive, and only represent the regional, national, provincial and local initiatives that we were able to discover – there are likely to be many more. The scale of the task in identifying every initiative under way in South Africa is enormous and beyond the scope of this report, but the inventory does provide a sample that adequately reflects the trends, current gaps and overlaps in the field. A more exhaustive search would provide valuable information, and would help focus additional efforts more effectively.

Table of contents

2.1 Regional initiatives
2.2 National initiatives
2.3 Provincial initiatives
2.4 Local initiatives