The South African Oracle User Group conference opened, at Sun City, with an assurance that the global banking crisis and SA's changing political landscape will only strengthen democracy.
Speaking at the opening of the conference this week, Matthews Phosa, chairman of EOH, said South Africans must look at current events positively.
“The global banking crisis creates opportunities and space for new innovations, SA is not at risk of experiencing a financial crisis, exchange control will work in our favour, the rand will stabilise and Polokwane demonstrated that we have a strong democracy,” he said.
Phosa stressed the important role ICT plays in addressing the socio-economic problems facing SA. “The promotion of ICT is critical to the economy. There is a strong focus on science and technology in government, and e-governance initiatives are also being looked at as ways of tackling problems. We need to use ICT to close the gaps which currently exist between the state and the private sector,” he said.
Phosa, who is also treasurer-general of the ANC, urged delegates to draw on key lessons from the party, emphasising that policy change needs to be dynamic and that consensus on key issues needs to be reached internally and that “the gloves should come off” when there are disagreements.
“The fighting spirit around the country is encouraging and it is what we need to conquer the challenges facing SA,” he ended.
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