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September 2005

Influencing the Policy Debate The South African Challenges

and Successes

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Agenda

• South African priorities• Current policy framework • Public and private sector players• Influencing policy

– Examples and effectiveness• Current recommendations

References: SAITIS, DTI ICT Vision, Dti Review of Policies 2002,Foresight Project/ ICT

RoadMap/ ICT Charter, Nedlac Sector Summit

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South African priorities

• Key focus is economic and social development

• Recognition of importance of the ICT sector – to develop a knowledge based economy– its enabling role in other sectors

• Priorities influenced by – Political and economic imperatives– Rapid development of technology

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South African Priorities

• Transformation of the Economy– Effective participation of majority of South Africans in economy– Focus on the development of society

• Industry Development – Economic Growth– Job creation– Skills development– Increasing competitiveness: Export development and investment

• Service Delivery– Ubiquitous access– Increased use of ICT– Bridging digital divide– Keeping pace with technology driven changes

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Current Policy Framework

• No overarching Government Policy– Range policy frameworks impact on the ICT sector– All reflect the different priorities of the various Government Departments– Limited intra governmental coordination

• No provision for structured participation by private sector

• Rapid development of technology means policy makers playing catch up

• Existing laws barrier to ICT development

• Sector has been dominated by quasi public enterprises– 5 year monopoly to Telkom

• Growing awareness of need for need to create structures that will address overall needs

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Department of Science & Technology

Department of Communications

Department of Trade & Industry

Department of Labour & Education

Research & Development

Policies &Legislation &Regulation

Trade & BusinessDevelopment

Skills Development

Across the ICT SectorThe Advancement of

Communications Technologies

Development &Marketing of ICT

Products

Skilled Labour ICTLabour force across

The ICT Sector

Current role of the National Government Departments within the ICT Sector

Government Players

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Other Players

• Private sector Bodies– To date model has been ‘Need Specific’– Over 40 industry related associations in ICT and electronics– Formed in response to a changes in the political, economic and technology arenas– Tend to address a particular issue/ focus area

• National economic Development & Labour Council (NEDLAC)– Issues of social and economic policy= social dialogue– Ministerial representation

• ICT Empowerment Charter Working Group– To address the legacy of economic exclusion– Labour, community, ICASA, Government and industry

• Formalised labour

• Chambers/ Business Unity SA (BUSA)

• Strong informal networks

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Influencing Policy Debate:Examples

• Policy makers adopted based broad consultative process to address specific issues

– Industry associations/ NGO’s/ Civil society/ Trade Unions/ Chambers invited to give input

• Government conducted research – private sector input

• Department of Communications– ICT Charter 2004

• Ultimately will need to conform to the DTI’s Codes of Good Practice for Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment

– Ongoing stakeholder engagement regarding telecommunications and e commerce

– NEDLAC ICT Sector Summit 2002

• Department of Science and Technology– Foresight program/ICT Roadmap– Integrated R&D policy

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Influencing Policy Debate:Examples

• Department of Trade and Industry– National Export Strategy – current – Customised sector programs - current– Business and innovation incubators (CSIR) - current– SAVANT - marketing campaign –current– Cluster initiatives– ICT Vision 2002 – SAITIS SA IT Industry Strategy Project 2000

• Department of Labour– SETA/ISETT : Skills assessment and funding for skills development

• NEDLAC– Input to trade negotiations

• President’s Councils– ICT Development Council (international)– Commission for ICT policy (national) – managed by DoC

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Recommendations

• Need for strong leadership and vision in taking an ICT strategy forward

• Establishment of an ICT governance law that establishes an inclusive governance structure to address the overall needs of the sector

– Public-private partnership approach – Extensive intra-governmental co-ordination– Provide for effective implementation capacity – Not mutually exclusive to needs based approach– Rationalisation of industry bodies

• South Africa accelerates legislation to remove barriers to growth

– Convergence, e commerce, export development and investment

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Thank YouQuestions and Answers