E-WASTE ASSESSMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA - e-Waste. This guide

8.2.3.1 Stand-alone desktopsOpenSource software performs quite well on older hardware, provided that the chipspeed is in excessof 500 MHz and the machine's memory has been boosted to at least 128 Mb, with a hard drive capacityupwards of 5 Gb.8.2.3.2 Thin client machines in an LANIn this case, machines ranging from 486s to Pentium IVs can be used. A network card (if it is not builtinto the motherboard), a graphics card, a monitor, keyboard and mouse are required at the desktoplevel. The server would require a chipspeed of 1 GHz, memory of at least 2 Gb, and a hard drivecapacity of no less than 20 Gb.8.2.3 Interested Parties8.2.3.1 Metropolitan MunicipalitiesThe Ethekwini Metro and the Cape Metropolitan Council have indicated interest in the project. Theproject originally involved the assembly of refurbished older machines in work groups, or mini LANS, incommunity centres, but that was fraught with difficulty when it came to communities acceptingownership of the centres in each case. The political complexities relating to community “gatekeepers”was an almost insurmountable problem. Development initiatives such as these often prove to be amajor source of division within impoverished communities, where employment and sources of revenueare difficult to come by and hence often controlled by political factions. Hence, the idea of developingopportunities for entrepreneurship within communities was mooted. Even this will not entirely removethe initiative from the realms of the politically opportunistic. The backing of a body the size of a Metrowould be advantageous because such a structure would have the political power to deal with thedifficulties of implementation.8.2.3.2 GovernmentA spreadsheet is attached which illustrates the business potential of each of the computerised businessand training centre/internet cafe operations. In order to be sustainable this system could not rely oncharity or cross-subsidisation. A simple, self-financed business operation, set in a company that wouldhave the black economic empowerment (BEE) attributes required for economic advancement ofpreviously disadvantaged individuals in South Africa would more likely succeed.The project concept was received with favourable comment by Ms Marba Visagie, Deputy Director ofEnvironment at the Department of Trade and Industries.35/41