While connectivity has the potential to transform lives and grow the economy, SA's ICT industry faces hurdles ahead of it reaching its full potential.
Under communications minister Yunus Carrim's headship, the Department of Communications (DOC) has started taking steps to address the digital divide, unconnected citizens and high cost of communications in SA - but, says Carrim, he may not be around to sustain these initiatives after May.
The DOC has come under fire in the past for poor leadership and failing to deliver on its promises and objectives. Under Carrim's watch, the industry's optimism has grown - but his portfolio is in the hands of the president, come May.
With elections looming, the question was posed to three key industry players: "What is the one thing you would do if you were appointed communications minister?" This is what they had to say:
Towela Nyirende-Jele, programme manager of the New Partnership for Africa's Development's e-Africa Programme, says her focus would be on the youth. "I would invest in the youth. Invest in the youth in terms of upskilling them. Invest in the youth in terms of creating opportunities for them to create enterprises and SMEs that are not only driven by the Internet, but also focused on delivering services over the Internet."
Nyirende-Jele says while she is seeing political will in terms of advancing the Africa agenda lately, a lot more investment is required from the private sector.
Business Connexion CEO Benjamin Mophatlane says if he could do one thing only, it would be to bring down the cost of communication. "I would make sure there were people on devices, everywhere and connected. I would make sure people had access to the Internet."
He says for a continent the size of Africa, "we cannot continue with 18% Internet penetration". For the country - and the continent at large - to change, Africa needs at least 60% penetration. "That will represent the single biggest change."
Dimension Data CEO Derek Wilcocks says he would create demand. "I think every student from grade 0 up should have a tablet."
Wilcocks says over-the-top players are one of the industry's "greatest hopes" right now, as they are driving economic value.
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