By Kathy Gibson – By 2020, all South Africans should have Internet access. This is the commitment made by Siyabonga Cwele, the new Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, speaking at the Cisco Safari 2014 conference held at the University of Pretoria this morning.
Cwele points out that President Jacob Zuma, in both his State of the Nation address last week and the following debate, committed government to both the National Development Plan (NDP) and the country’s broadband policy, SA Connect.
“The NDP and SA Connect recognise the importance of being part of the connected world,” Cwele says.
In terms of the SA Connect policy, Cwele tells IT-Online his department is engaging all stakeholders in government and private sector to facilitate infrastructure roll-out, maintenance and use cases.
“The key is to maximise the capacity that we have as government while directing the private sector to invest where they can find profitable returns. Government cannot roll this out on our own, we need collaboration.”
Cwele says the department is committed to the targets outlined in SA Connect, to providing broadband and free access points while addressing the issue of connectivity in marginalised areas.
“The Universal Access Fund must start being used appropriately,” he says. “At the same time we need to be cautious that we don’t create redundancy of the network. My department is engaging with local government and provincial government to we ensure we invest wisely so there is no unnecessary redundancy.
“This dialogue is on-going and my officials are visiting with the provinces now.”
Beyond the infrastructure, he stresses, a lot needs to be done to ensure that networks are maintained and that people use them effectively.
“This is where the importance of training comes in. Not only do we need the technicians and engineers to maintain these networks, we need the people who can operate them.”
There are many opportunities for young people looking to enter the ICT market, Cwele adds, and his department is working closely with its counterparts in Basic Education and Higher Education to ensure that e-skills take centre stage.
“We will only reach our goal when there is a higher uptake of these skills and when they form part of the basic curriculum,” he says.
Once teachers are able to realise the potential of e-education, and government officials are able to use it to deliver services, Cwele believes that ICT can start to change people’s lives.
“So the development of human skills is going to be an important thing for South African society.”
The use cases for national broadband connectivity are massive, Cwele adds. “I am very excited.”
Applications include e-healthcare, e-education and improved service deliver – all while reducing the cost to citizens.
“In the long term we want to have participation in the digital economy. But we hope that all of these things will also contribute to a significant lowering of the cost of access. Citizens need to be able to afford the digital revolution.”
The minister spoke of the importance of education in making these goals possible, and acknowledged the fact that partners like Cisco have made a major impact in bringing training to South African students through initiatives like the Cisco Networking Academies.
“At the heart of this initiative is the promotion of digital access and skills so that South African can unleash its potential in the digital world,” he comments.
He points out that the NDP calls for an IT-literate society in South Africa by 2030.
“Among the priorities it highlights is the improvement of parity in education, skills and innovation. We are urging universities and the private sector to continue on the path of collaboration and innovation in skills and learning solutions to the youth.
“Government recognises the growing importance of e-skills, and the development of the e-skills framework is a further step on this path.”
While the country has made progress in the last 20 years, Cwele emphasises that persistent inequality and poverty still plagues South Africa.
“Addressing the shortage of IT skills in South Africa and on the continent is an opportunity to be seized by all of us,” he adds. “Ensuring that our young men and women have the astuteness of take advantage of the new society is important to help us overcome the challenges of inequality, poverty and joblessness.”
Cisco has partnered with the E-skills Institute since 2009.
Beyond the infrastructure, Cwele stresses, a lot needs to be done to ensure that networks are maintained and that people use them effectively.
“This is where the importance of training comes in. Not only do we need the technicians and engineers to maintain these networks, we need the people who can operate them.”
There are many opportunities for young people looking to enter the ICT market, Cwele adds, and his department is working closely with its counterparts in Basic Education and Higher Education to ensure that e-skills take centre stage.
“We will only reach our goal when there is a higher uptake of these skills and when they form part of the basic curriculum,” he says.
Once teachers are able to realise the potential of e-education, and government officials are able to use it to deliver services, Cwele believes that ICT can start to change people’s lives.
“So the development of human skills is going to be an important thing for South African society.”
The use cases for national broadband connectivity are massive, Cwele adds. “I am very excited.”
Applications include e-healthcare, e-education and improved service deliver – all while reducing the cost to citizens.
“In the long term we want to have participation in the digital economy. But we hope that all of these things will also contribute to a significant lowering of the cost of access. Citizens need to be able to afford the digital revolution.”