ICT must lead transformation, says minister

Johannesburg, 16 Sept 2003

Communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri says the information and communications technology (ICT) sector needs to lead the way in transformation, setting an example for other sectors by making its contribution to empowerment within the context of the broader economy.

Addressing around 500 delegates at the start of the indaba for the formulation of an ICT empowerment charter this morning, the minister said transformation within the sector needed to be understood in the context of what government was doing to address the legacy of apartheid and the obstacles that it had created.

"The challenge in black economic empowerment [BEE] is to grow the economy and meet the needs of the people in a sustainable way. Considerable integration is required to correct the imbalances of the past, and a conscious and deliberate attempt must be made to turn the tides," she said.

While government`s empowerment bill has created a framework for transformation, Matsepe-Casaburri said the task for the sector is to deepen empowerment to a broader spectrum with meaningful participation and the impartation of skills.

"IT services need to be given to the masses in a way that empowers the community, taking into account their needs, dignity and skills," she said.

Matsepe-Casaburri said government and parastatals, as the biggest buyers of services in the sector, had a vital role to play in empowering people and providing them with skills.

Addressing the difficult topic of share ownership, she called for an element of mass share ownership and co-ownership of companies.

"In considering the complex problem of intellectual property, we need to expand our intellectual base, transferring knowledge and skills to previously disadvantaged individuals."

Looking ahead, the minister said the industry must learn from past experiences where BEE has been implemented, and clear solutions are needed to make the ICT sector globally competitive, while still taking into account its socio-economic responsibility to the nation.

The indaba is being held today and tomorrow at the Sandton Convention centre. It aims to formulate the industry`s BEE strategy, including a scorecard on how the BEE plan should be carried out.