Address by H.E. Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa at the opening gala dinner of the Govtech 2007 conference, CTICC, Cape Town

Theme: Empowering women through information and communication technology

Salutations
Programme Director,
Premier Ebrahim Rasool,
Ms Thenjiwe Chikane, Chairperson of the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) Board,
Representatives of foreign governments,
Directors-General,
Executive and senior managers from the private and public sectors,
Officials from the three spheres of government,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I want to congratulate SITA for hosting this second GovTech 2007 conference, which brings together all the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) stakeholders in government and the private sector. ICT is crucial for the future economic and social development of South Africa. I also want to acknowledge the women today as it is women's month and the contribution they make in ICT industry which must be celebrated.

The context of women in South Africa today

Broadly speaking, the South African government's policies in relation to ICT are based on two major pillars. The first pillar is that ICT is meant to ensure government services are delivered faster, cheaper, smarter and in a sustainable manner to all its citizens.

The e-government policy places the interests of ordinary citizens at its centre, and in line with the Batho Pele - People First principles. In this way the e-government policy seeks to encourage accountability and to empower citizens whilst transforming the process around service delivery itself. This has great implication for ICT literacy for ordinary people in the communities and in the Public Education System.

The second pillar of government's policy is that ICT tools and information are key drivers of economic and societal development. In total this means that ICT should be used to create a better life for all citizens in every way possible.

At the recent Cabinet Lekgotla in July this year, a number of issues were discussed pertaining to ICT. The government's major areas of focus over the next few months will be to expand investment in ICT infrastructure. This will increase South Africa's connectivity at both national and international levels. This should lower the cost of communications and will hopefully increase ICT usage.

Government will also implement the Information Society Development Plan, which seeks to increase the usage of ICTs across the three spheres of government, as a means of improving public service delivery.

Programme Director, I know we have many learned people here, who are very ICT savvy, who know a lot more about IT than ordinary citizens understand. I also know that many speakers would have made many profound contributions about ICT, as I put forward my ideas about ICT, they are at the risk of sounding too obvious.

Firstly, our mission is to lessen the burden of our people through appropriate use of technology as government. We must invest in government across the board including ensuring political principals also embrace and use ICT. That we must do so systematically and we must do a reality check and not assume we automatically employ a competent cadre.

ICT-illiterate senior managers are definite obstacles to optimum use of ICTs, while unmanaged whiz kids can lead us onto an eccentric path and fruitless expenditure; such circumstances coupled with unmanaged consultants often lead us to buy solutions for imaginary problems whilst leaving out real problems such as gender responsive solutions that enhance and remove challenges of women and households.

ICT providing for the needs of women

How do we make sure that the needs of women are met by government? For example, child grants need to be processed and paid out quickly and effectively. Maintenance payments that are paid to a maintenance office can speedily be transferred to mothers, without unnecessary delays. Again I say, if government's ICT systems work for women, it works for everyone�I promise! Providing ICT skills to girls and young boys, at the same time protecting them from perverts who use ICT to exploit them, is as important as immunisation.

ICT as economic and societal developer

The second point I want to make is about ICT as a driver of economic and societal development amongst the unskilled and poor.

Our national ratings as poor users of ICTs can change depending on what we can achieve in the public schools and in communities through affordable access e.g. access by Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMME) and how Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) can take on this matter. ICTs are also critical for successful Second Economy interventions. I am glad that the Department of Education is working towards implementing the e-education strategy, which will contribute to better learning and teaching in public schools.

We need partnerships with companies that can offer students internships and can develop their unique outreach programmes with schools, tertiary institutions and community based organisations. I am convinced, we cannot rest until there is universal access in public schools, or else what we discuss here is superficial, to say the least, if we do not have a pool of ICT competent children So we have to cover the basics lest we entrench inequalities in the next generations.

We also need to pay attention to affirmative procurement and empowerment of SMMEs. In ICT it is possible to give our people a better chance, unlike some of the older industries, ICTs are new and innovation still counts.

Conclusion

In conclusion, programme director I want to emphasise that government welcomes the opportunities to forge partnerships with a broad range of organisations.

I want to wish all the participants well in their deliberations during the conference over the next few days.

I thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency
20 August 2007