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It's all about leadership

Farzana Rasool
By Farzana Rasool
Johannesburg, 23 Sept 2010

Last week, I took a trip with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to Mpumalanga to witness what I was told was a major development for ICTs in rural SA.

What I expected was maybe another Thusong-like centre that sounds amazing and really very useful, but that hardly ever amounts to anything much in practice, usually because citizens in those areas may not have the skills to use the ICT tools on their own.

I was surprised. Really surprised. I saw development. Like actual progression in logical steps.

I expected maybe a small building having no more than two or three rooms, with one to serve as a reception area and then one or two more with some hand-me-down computers.

But what I saw was a tool to possibly help close the digital divide.

Logical progression

We stopped at the kwaNdebele Science School, in the Siyabuswa district of Mpumalanga.

I was first taken to a computer lab that was opened by DST minister Naledi Pandor in March last year. Then I was shown the main attraction.

A long, thin piece of metal attached to the side of one of the school's buildings was the tool that may bring socio-economic development to the community, along with the possibility of closing the digital divide.

So this is where the logical progression kicked in. One step was taken towards ICT growth in the area when the computer lab was opened up; but it wasn't left at that with a sense of satisfaction by the department for having done something.

The initiative wasn't just abandoned. The next step was to connect the school to the Internet and this step was taken carefully and boldly all at once.

The DST formed a EUR30 million partnership with the European Union to work on a wireless mesh network project that would allow broadband connectivity in rural areas. This school, along with others in the area, serves as the pilot project with solid plans for greater expansion across SA.

Broadband benefits

Broadband has been punted by many analysts as the bridge that will close the digital divide.

You can't use the excuse that SA is still a developing country when you want to cover up your lack of results and then forget the country's age when you want to live like a neighbour to the white house.

Farzana Rasool, ITWeb journalist

They say developing countries could ensure faster economic development if they deploy broadband more rapidly and make it accessible to a larger percentage of citizens.

The access to information that comes with broadband is of paramount importance to closing the north-south, urban-rural gap because of the possibility of improved literacy, education, knowledge, commercial opportunities, and self-empowerment that it brings.

The power of technology and ICTs specifically to create knowledge societies and spur human and economic development can never be underestimated. They provide the bridge between developed and developing countries.

The wireless mesh network project then has the potential to really and truly tackle the rural-urban gap in terms of connectivity. Knowledge is being placed in the hands of SA's future, school children who are at an age of high-adaptability and quick upskilling, to help attain a more equal tomorrow.

So I guess our government did something really smart. Who knew?

Lead the way

I imagined the possibilities and wondered to myself: “Wow this is cool and productive. I wonder what made them do it?”

And then I had to remind myself that this is what they're supposed to do as the government.

Using technology to advance our country and get us out of the never-ending 'developing' status is part of their mandate right? How long does the puberty stage last anyway?

SA is indeed in the early stages of puberty, because, with my reaction as proof, every small progression and development is still a great surprise and just as in puberty, the right guidance is needed to move beyond this intermediate phase.

That's what our politicians are for, right? To lead us into the years of adulthood as smoothly as possible.

It has been soon for the wounded child that is SA, but questioning attitudes become justified when we know the technology is available and the skills underlying, but nothing is done about it. Or at least nothing is done about it fast enough.

We're told that we're still a developing country and need to put the right infrastructure in place, which will be costly.

And then, when we see political leaders spending ridiculous amounts on luxury vehicles and top class accommodation, all while the infrastructure is “still being put in place”.

You can't use the excuse that SA is still a developing country when you want to cover up your lack of results and then forget the country's age when you want to live like a neighbour to the white house.

The big spending would be a little easier to swallow if technological innovation and ICT development were constantly and rapidly improving. But no.

ICT induna?

And I will say it again: ICTs are critical to the socio-economic development of a country.

However, ICTs rarely (okay, never) get lead roles in departmental or provincial budget speeches. Yes, there is usually some mention, but always in a short, last-minute, “I-almost-forgot-about-that” kind of way. Funny enough, this is true even for those departments which should have ICTs as one of their primary focus areas.

We do see great efforts like the DSTs wireless mesh network project from time to time, but they're too few and far between. So it's probably a question of leadership. It all boils down to the main decision-maker and their vision.

Ministers need to understand the major role that technology plays in almost every aspect of development. They need to foresee that technology can help tourism if the world's largest telescope comes to SA, that connecting schools to the Internet can help close the urban-rural gap and that ICTs can help SA move from the 'developing' to the 'developed' tab.

With this in mind, I fully support government's consideration of an ICT MEC. A governmental position that deals only with ICTs? What could be more progressive?

It would mean transformation in the ICT sector with the special focused attention that the sector needs.

The question is whether the person chosen will view the 'developing' status of the country as an excuse or as something that needs to be surpassed.

When interviews are being done for the position, instead of asking about where the candidate sees themselves in five years, the interviewers should ask: “Will you lead us into the global village as a knowledge society?”