STAATSKOERANT, 24 JANUARIE 2014
No. 37261
FOREWORD
Minister Yunus Carrim
Our last major policy review of the ICT sector took place in the first five years after our 1994
democratic elections. We had separate White Papers on telecommunications (1996)
broadcasting (1998) and postal services (1998). That may be about 16 years ago in calender
years, but in ICT terms it is much, much longer, given the speed and sweep of changes
since then! And crucially: each of those White Papers was done largely in isolation from the
other two - and yet, today, with the convergence of technologies, it is hardly possible to talk
of each of these key ICT sectors separately, given their interconnections.
So this Green Paper is very necessary and long overdue.
It seeks to provide an overview of ICT developments in our country since 1994, sketch the
current terrain, deal with changes in the ICT sector globally and raise questions about how
South Africa can become a more effective knowledge economy and information society. It is
utterly clear that if we are to effectively tackle our economic growth, development and jobcreation tasks, we will have to draw far more on ICT. What, the Green Paper asks, are the
poicy, legislative, regulatory, institutional and other changes we have to make to ensure a
more effective ICT sector that more actively contributes to economic growth? What do we
have to do to ensure that we realise the vision in the National Development Plan of "a
seamless information infrastructure that by 2030 will underpin a dynamic and connected
vibrant information society and a knowledge economy that is more inclusive, equitable and
prosperous," the Green Paper asks?
ICT has huge, huge potential to reduce the inequalities in our society. But if not managed
properly, it also has huge potential to increase our divisions. We have far too many divides in
our country as it is. We have to use ICT to reduce the gap between the haves and havenots, between the connected and the disconnected in our society. So the digital divide is not
just between the developed and developing countries, it is also, crucially, between the
privileged and not-priveliged in our society. Tackling this is the responsibility of all of us, not
just the government.
In fact, most of the issues raised in this Green Paper, it has to be stressed, cannot be
addressed by government alone. We need the active participation of business, trade unions,
civil society organisations, individual experts and the public generally to respond to the
issues in the Green Paper and contribute to shaping a new integrated ICT policy relevant to
our country's needs.
This Green Paper has not just been dropped from above by government. Many stakeholders
have, rightly, been calling for a review of ICT policies for some time now. And several have
also had a hand in broadly shaping the Green Paper. In December 2012 former Minister
Dina Pule appointed an ICT Policy Review Panel comprising a representative range of
stakeholders, under the leadership of Mr Joe Mjwara, to faciliate a review of existing policies
and propose changes to them following consultations with the public. We are grateful to the
Panel for the work they have done and for bearing with the pressures of these past few
months to get this Green Paper out - on time! Of course, it is not a perfect Green Paper. But
then which Green Paper is? And why should it be? After all, a Green Paper is primarily
directed at stimulating and encouraging discussion on key issues and ensuring active public
participation in shaping policy. This Green Paper certainly meets those aims. It's up to you to
make the most of it. And we most certainly want you to.
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