Date: 31/05/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: World Telecommunications Day
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA, ON THE OCCASION OF WORLD TELECOMMUNICATIONS DAY, Phokeng, North West Province, Saturday, 31 May 2003
Director of the Programme
The Minister of Communications
The Premier of the North West Province
The Mayor of Rustenburg
Kgosi Molotlegi and other Traditional Leaders present
Representatives of Government at all levels
Community of Phokeng
Esteemed Guests
I am indeed pleased for the opportunity to interact with the people of Phokeng today as we celebrate World Telecommunications Day, which was marked on May 17 globally.
You will recall that we were unable to celebrate this day on the 17 as we were laying to rest one of the most outstanding leaders of this country, our father Walter Sisulu on the day.
This day, which was proclaimed by the United Nations agency, the International Telecommunications Union, is a timely reminder of the enormous challenges we continue to face in the field of information and communications technologies.
We are therefore very pleased that the ITU has decided to focus on the poorest regions of the world, through this year's theme of "Helping All The World's People To Communicate".
It certainly highlights the critical need for a global partnership to ensure that even the poorest villages across the globe can tap into the ICT network that covers the world.
It is critical that we reflect on these challenges from time to time as we seek to reduce the digital divide between the developed world and developing nations.
It is a well-known fact world-wide that communication between countries in Africa is still faced with major difficulties, thus undermining economic development. For example, it is still a lengthy process to transport goods or send letters from point A to point B. Therefore, when planning or improving communications, we must consider such problems because advancing communications in Africa is fundamental to economic development and NEPAD.
Communication plays an important role in all aspects of human activity and human development. It is also an integral part of the Millennium Development Goals, agreed upon by Heads of State and Government at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000.
I must say that we are pleased with the progress we are making in expanding access to communication tools and services in our country.
South Africa has, since the advent of democracy in 1994, made remarkable strides both in providing a policy framework and widening access to the communications infrastructure to almost everyone, especially in poor, rural communities.
I still marvel at the sight of a person in a rural village being able to make a telephone call, or being able to walk to a post office to receive services there.
Granted, we still have a long way to go before we can say there is universal access to these services, but we have made a start. There was a time when one could not even find a public telephone in urban townships, let alone rural areas. So, we have achieved something indeed.
In pursuit of our goal to working towards access to information, government has among other projects, embarked on a national partnership with business and communities to establish multi-purpose community centres across the country.
These assist people living in remote areas to be able to access government information and services where they live. Government saves money, which would otherwise be spent by people on travelling long distances to find places with communication means.
We have also embarked on the Khanya project that places desktop computers, networks, the Internet and e-mail facilities at the fingertips of our children.
We hope that teachers, learners and parents will maximise the benefits of this initiative for the broader communities. These are vital ways of addressing some of the social and economic challenges we face everyday.
Increasingly we are witnessing major changes in the way people communicate with each other. For example, the sheer scale of same-time communications like Internet surfing and e-mail has virtually wiped away boundaries and timelines.
In addition, telecommunication received a massive boost with the advent of cellular technology especially the SMS function on mobile phones.
We no longer beat the bush drum or send messages via horse riders. Compatriots, we however continue to lag behind insofar as we lack the technological and scientific know-how and skills to develop these technologies.
In present day South Africa, because of the cellular explosion, even the most remote communities now have access to communication - made possible by the availability, convenience and 'affordability' of cellular phones to many South Africans.
Those, who still do not have cellular phones, at least have a possibility of access that did not exist before.
We must congratulate the industry for finding innovative ways of expanding the cellular telephone industry far beyond any expectations when the first cellular licences were issued.
Given that such a huge chunk of the South African community has access to cellular phones, both young and old, there is an opportunity to take advantage of this to use this technology to the benefit of South African society such as improving its use in the growth of small enterprises, particularly the survivalist enterprises in our communities.
The cellular telephone industry makes small entrepreneurs easily accessible and able to do business and achieve growth.
We always stress the importance of partnerships in achieving our development goals as a country. I am therefore pleased that members of the ICT sector have been working with government, through the Department of Communications, to showcase to the community of Phokeng, the role played by ICTs in their lives, and to expose children and teachers to computers.
We are also delighted that the sector is donating through the Universal Service Agency, a telecentre to the Bakubung Primary School to enable the entire community to access computers.
Thank you to the participating companies, Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, SA Post Office, Telkom, NEMISA, Sentech, Icasa and the SABC.
Fellow South Africans, our view is that if we guide the Information Communications Technology revolution properly, ICTs has the potential to serve as the driving force for development in Africa.
In this regard, we welcome the World Summit on the Information Society, which will start in Geneva in December this year and continue in Tunisia in 2005.
The Summit is an opportunity we can ill-afford to miss. It will serve as a foundation on which to build a global contract for a truly inclusive global information society.
The global society we seek to build must be the one in which all people, in all countries, have access to information and knowledge.
Compatriots, as we reach the end of child protection week, I would like to appeal to all our people to remember that our children are our most wonderful gift, and that we should shower them with love, compassion and understanding.
In so doing we will allow children to unlock their natural talents, grow into responsible adults and fine citizens.
We should also shield our children from the harsh, and sometimes evil, crimes often committed against them. I know that the majority agrees with this message, and that working together, we will isolate the few criminals who prey on children and put them behind bars.
Once again, thank you for attending this celebration.
We hope the community of Phokeng will from today, build on the knowledge gained on the benefits of ICT, and that you will encourage the youth to venture into careers in this field, to assist the country's economic development.
I thank you.
Issued by The Presidency
31 May 2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: World Telecommunications Day
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA, ON THE OCCASION OF WORLD TELECOMMUNICATIONS DAY, Phokeng, North West Province, Saturday, 31 May 2003
Director of the Programme
The Minister of Communications
The Premier of the North West Province
The Mayor of Rustenburg
Kgosi Molotlegi and other Traditional Leaders present
Representatives of Government at all levels
Community of Phokeng
Esteemed Guests
I am indeed pleased for the opportunity to interact with the people of Phokeng today as we celebrate World Telecommunications Day, which was marked on May 17 globally.
You will recall that we were unable to celebrate this day on the 17 as we were laying to rest one of the most outstanding leaders of this country, our father Walter Sisulu on the day.
This day, which was proclaimed by the United Nations agency, the International Telecommunications Union, is a timely reminder of the enormous challenges we continue to face in the field of information and communications technologies.
We are therefore very pleased that the ITU has decided to focus on the poorest regions of the world, through this year's theme of "Helping All The World's People To Communicate".
It certainly highlights the critical need for a global partnership to ensure that even the poorest villages across the globe can tap into the ICT network that covers the world.
It is critical that we reflect on these challenges from time to time as we seek to reduce the digital divide between the developed world and developing nations.
It is a well-known fact world-wide that communication between countries in Africa is still faced with major difficulties, thus undermining economic development. For example, it is still a lengthy process to transport goods or send letters from point A to point B. Therefore, when planning or improving communications, we must consider such problems because advancing communications in Africa is fundamental to economic development and NEPAD.
Communication plays an important role in all aspects of human activity and human development. It is also an integral part of the Millennium Development Goals, agreed upon by Heads of State and Government at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000.
I must say that we are pleased with the progress we are making in expanding access to communication tools and services in our country.
South Africa has, since the advent of democracy in 1994, made remarkable strides both in providing a policy framework and widening access to the communications infrastructure to almost everyone, especially in poor, rural communities.
I still marvel at the sight of a person in a rural village being able to make a telephone call, or being able to walk to a post office to receive services there.
Granted, we still have a long way to go before we can say there is universal access to these services, but we have made a start. There was a time when one could not even find a public telephone in urban townships, let alone rural areas. So, we have achieved something indeed.
In pursuit of our goal to working towards access to information, government has among other projects, embarked on a national partnership with business and communities to establish multi-purpose community centres across the country.
These assist people living in remote areas to be able to access government information and services where they live. Government saves money, which would otherwise be spent by people on travelling long distances to find places with communication means.
We have also embarked on the Khanya project that places desktop computers, networks, the Internet and e-mail facilities at the fingertips of our children.
We hope that teachers, learners and parents will maximise the benefits of this initiative for the broader communities. These are vital ways of addressing some of the social and economic challenges we face everyday.
Increasingly we are witnessing major changes in the way people communicate with each other. For example, the sheer scale of same-time communications like Internet surfing and e-mail has virtually wiped away boundaries and timelines.
In addition, telecommunication received a massive boost with the advent of cellular technology especially the SMS function on mobile phones.
We no longer beat the bush drum or send messages via horse riders. Compatriots, we however continue to lag behind insofar as we lack the technological and scientific know-how and skills to develop these technologies.
In present day South Africa, because of the cellular explosion, even the most remote communities now have access to communication - made possible by the availability, convenience and 'affordability' of cellular phones to many South Africans.
Those, who still do not have cellular phones, at least have a possibility of access that did not exist before.
We must congratulate the industry for finding innovative ways of expanding the cellular telephone industry far beyond any expectations when the first cellular licences were issued.
Given that such a huge chunk of the South African community has access to cellular phones, both young and old, there is an opportunity to take advantage of this to use this technology to the benefit of South African society such as improving its use in the growth of small enterprises, particularly the survivalist enterprises in our communities.
The cellular telephone industry makes small entrepreneurs easily accessible and able to do business and achieve growth.
We always stress the importance of partnerships in achieving our development goals as a country. I am therefore pleased that members of the ICT sector have been working with government, through the Department of Communications, to showcase to the community of Phokeng, the role played by ICTs in their lives, and to expose children and teachers to computers.
We are also delighted that the sector is donating through the Universal Service Agency, a telecentre to the Bakubung Primary School to enable the entire community to access computers.
Thank you to the participating companies, Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, SA Post Office, Telkom, NEMISA, Sentech, Icasa and the SABC.
Fellow South Africans, our view is that if we guide the Information Communications Technology revolution properly, ICTs has the potential to serve as the driving force for development in Africa.
In this regard, we welcome the World Summit on the Information Society, which will start in Geneva in December this year and continue in Tunisia in 2005.
The Summit is an opportunity we can ill-afford to miss. It will serve as a foundation on which to build a global contract for a truly inclusive global information society.
The global society we seek to build must be the one in which all people, in all countries, have access to information and knowledge.
Compatriots, as we reach the end of child protection week, I would like to appeal to all our people to remember that our children are our most wonderful gift, and that we should shower them with love, compassion and understanding.
In so doing we will allow children to unlock their natural talents, grow into responsible adults and fine citizens.
We should also shield our children from the harsh, and sometimes evil, crimes often committed against them. I know that the majority agrees with this message, and that working together, we will isolate the few criminals who prey on children and put them behind bars.
Once again, thank you for attending this celebration.
We hope the community of Phokeng will from today, build on the knowledge gained on the benefits of ICT, and that you will encourage the youth to venture into careers in this field, to assist the country's economic development.
I thank you.
Issued by The Presidency
31 May 2003
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