Abstract
While the South African government has implemented an information and communication technology (ICT) policy to address issues of universal access and service, questions remain about the effective implementation of this policy in rural areas. This article explores the extent to which ICT policy and regulation were implemented in rural South Africa, with specific reference to the Eastern Cape province. Focus group interviews and in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data from 28 high school learners, two local municipal mayors and two women support group leaders in the Chris Hani District Municipality. A theme analysis indicated that the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) is failing to fulfil its mandate of promoting universal access and service. It is recommended that the provincial government in the Eastern Cape design an ICT strategy for its municipalities and that there should be easy access to Thusong Service Centres in rural areas.
Highlights
AND BACKGROUNDIn most rural areas, people primarily depend on agriculture for their livelihood
The apartheid-era telecommunications infrastructure in South Africa was biased in favour of white and urban areas (Braman 1998; Van Audenhove 1999; Horwitz & Currie 2007), leaving rural areas poorly connected in terms of information and communication technology (ICT)
From the data analysis above, it is clear that some rural women and high school learners in the Emalahleni and Intsika-Yethu Local Municipalities in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province face a number of challenges in ICT uptake and use
Summary
AND BACKGROUNDIn most rural areas, people primarily depend on agriculture for their livelihood. The apartheid-era telecommunications infrastructure in South Africa was biased in favour of white and urban areas (Braman 1998; Van Audenhove 1999; Horwitz & Currie 2007), leaving rural areas poorly connected in terms of information and communication technology (ICT). Does this restrict access to information, but it restricts citizens’ right to communicate and take part in democratic processes. Redressing this imbalance has become one of the focus areas of the South African government since the advent of democracy.
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