Digital divide and e-governance in South Africa - Library
Digital divide and e-governance in South Africa - Library
Digital divide and e-governance in South Africa - Library
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Historically, the use of <strong>in</strong>formation technology <strong>and</strong> communication has rema<strong>in</strong>ed the prerogative for the more well-to-<br />
do, <strong>and</strong> has only served to <strong>in</strong>crease their <strong>in</strong>terests. Yet the <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>n government is determ<strong>in</strong>ed - <strong>in</strong> the face of<br />
criticism to roll out e-government to its people.<br />
One way it endeavours to do this is through multipurpose community centres that are dotted around the country <strong>and</strong><br />
that allow citizens to access the Internet, email <strong>and</strong> other bus<strong>in</strong>ess tools. Some have evolved to become bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
centres <strong>in</strong> their own right, enabl<strong>in</strong>g rural communities to have access to an 'office'.<br />
Heighten<strong>in</strong>g citizens' contact with government could have the effect of reduc<strong>in</strong>g corruption <strong>in</strong> a country <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g<br />
service delivery. Despite its vast potential as an enabler, very few <strong>Africa</strong>n countries engage <strong>in</strong> e-<strong>governance</strong>. Locally,<br />
<strong>in</strong>frastructure has been established <strong>and</strong> will cont<strong>in</strong>ue to be developed <strong>and</strong> this will enable government to launch<br />
similar portals <strong>in</strong> the SADC region as it is vital to ensure that the region does not fall further beh<strong>in</strong>d.<br />
Gauteng launched the Gauteng Prov<strong>in</strong>cial Government Internet portal on 8 June 2005 <strong>in</strong> Tembisa. The Gauteng<br />
Onl<strong>in</strong>e portal (http://www.gautengonl<strong>in</strong>e.gov.za) gives members of the public access to certa<strong>in</strong> e-government services<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation about government at the push of a button. Gauteng Onl<strong>in</strong>e offers <strong>in</strong>formation <strong>and</strong> various services for<br />
citizens, bus<strong>in</strong>ess, employees <strong>and</strong> other government entities. It also provides a s<strong>in</strong>gle entry po<strong>in</strong>t to prov<strong>in</strong>cial<br />
government websites. The launch marked the first phase of services to be offered on the site. Members of the public<br />
are be able to access the portal through any facility with <strong>in</strong>ternet access, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g certa<strong>in</strong> multi-purpose community<br />
centres <strong>and</strong> telecentres. Through the Gauteng Onl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>itiative, <strong>in</strong>ternet access has been rolled out to public schools<br />
across the prov<strong>in</strong>ce.<br />
The portal contribute to the prov<strong>in</strong>cial government’s objective to build an effective <strong>and</strong> car<strong>in</strong>g government, improv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
efficiency <strong>and</strong> access to government <strong>in</strong>formation <strong>and</strong> services<br />
6. Research methods<br />
The comb<strong>in</strong>ation of quantitative <strong>and</strong> qualitative research techniques for this study. Literature survey was conducted<br />
as a basis for the study. The research reported <strong>in</strong>volve a quantitative study of the characteristics <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>n<br />
government departments websites. These websites were analysed. Websites contents analysis is the core dimension<br />
because it offers an overview of the government proximity to the citizens, <strong>in</strong> the sense that it provides <strong>in</strong>sights about<br />
types of <strong>in</strong>formation that governments make available on their websites <strong>and</strong> their level of <strong>in</strong>teraction with citizens<br />
(Criado & Ramilo, 2003).