The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) welcomes the release last week of the third draft of the ICT empowerment charter, which sets targets for the involvement of black economic empowerment players in the sector.
An improvement in focus and emphasis from the first two drafts, the latest draft adds impetus to the debates about ownership and control in the sector, not only for local companies, but also for multinationals.
SITA has already voiced its stance for true empowerment and against fronting, and emphasises its support for this process. We also welcome the participation of all the stakeholders in order to ensure that the charter, when adopted, represents the aspirations of the sector as a whole.
Our view is that the initiative, like in all the other sectors that have went this route before, is a legitimate part of the national agenda for inclusivity in all sectors.
Our country is ranked the 20th largest consumer of ICT products in the world, putting our contribution to about 0.5% of the global ICT revenue. For this, SITA believes that the local ICT industry should embrace all efforts geared at ensuring a level playing field and participation of previously disadvantaged individuals.
As a government agency, SITA takes pride in this process and is anticipating its benefits for the country.
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