TOWARDS THE DIGITAL TOWARDS THE DIGITAL CITY IN eTHEKWINI:CITY IN eTHEKWINI:

An overview of debates and An overview of debates and issuesissues

Nancy OdendaalNancy OdendaalSchool of Architecture, Planning School of Architecture, Planning

and Housingand HousingUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal

OVERVIEW OF DEBATESOVERVIEW OF DEBATES

ICTICT GovernanceGovernance

CitiesCities

?

SPATIAL LIMITATIONSSPATIAL LIMITATIONS Centralization of Metropolitan Centralization of Metropolitan

GovernmentGovernment Location of Citizens in relation to Location of Citizens in relation to

Municipal officesMunicipal offices Ward systemWard system ICT as information and inter-active ICT as information and inter-active

decision-making tooldecision-making tool

CO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCECO-OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE

Cooperative approach to service Cooperative approach to service deliverydelivery

Continuous flows of information and Continuous flows of information and knowledge sharing requiredknowledge sharing required

Examples: IDP Nerve Centre and Examples: IDP Nerve Centre and DIMSDIMS

ICT as coordination and information ICT as coordination and information dissemination tooldissemination tool

NPM AND DEMOCRATIC NPM AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCEGOVERNANCE

The relationship between e-The relationship between e-governance and Managerialismgovernance and Managerialism

ICT and organisational culturesICT and organisational cultures Emphasis on economic growth and Emphasis on economic growth and

service efficiencyservice efficiency Digital DivideDigital Divide ICT and institutional / policy ICT and institutional / policy

imperativesimperatives

UNDERSTANDING INFORMAL UNDERSTANDING INFORMAL NETWORKS AND PROCESSESNETWORKS AND PROCESSES

The relationship between the “space The relationship between the “space of flows” and “space of places”of flows” and “space of places”

Grassrooting the space of flowsGrassrooting the space of flows Value added by ICT (Castells, 2000)Value added by ICT (Castells, 2000) Smart CommunitiesSmart Communities Local Government as facilitator of Local Government as facilitator of

the “Digital City”the “Digital City”

EMPOWERMENT AND ACCESSEMPOWERMENT AND ACCESS

Socio-cultural responses to Digital Socio-cultural responses to Digital TechnologyTechnology

Spatial constraints to ICT accessSpatial constraints to ICT access ““Splintering Urbanism” (Graham and Splintering Urbanism” (Graham and

Marvin, 2001)Marvin, 2001) Universal AccessUniversal Access Sustainability and backbone supportSustainability and backbone support

ICT INITIATIVESICT INITIATIVES ICT initiatives at various levels, with ICT initiatives at various levels, with

multiple aimsmultiple aims Developmental aspects not always Developmental aspects not always

clearly stated, but expectedclearly stated, but expected Mostly focused on administration, yet Mostly focused on administration, yet

empowering potential realizedempowering potential realized Digital Divide at local levelDigital Divide at local level Influence of ManagerialismInfluence of Managerialism

eThekwini ICT PolicyeThekwini ICT PolicyADMINISTRATIONADMINISTRATION

Connectivity amongst Connectivity amongst Municipal OfficesMunicipal Offices

Enterprise-wide GISEnterprise-wide GIS

Internal CoordinationInternal Coordination

EfficiencyEfficiency CommunicationCommunication Holistic approachHolistic approach

Community Community connectivityconnectivity

Skills developmentSkills development IntranetIntranet

GOVERNANCEGOVERNANCE

Infrastructure Infrastructure Included the excluded: Included the excluded:

SMME developmentSMME development

City-city networksCity-city networks Other govt. agencies?Other govt. agencies?

Emphasis on LEDEmphasis on LED SMME developmentSMME development

Web siteWeb site

Empowerment of small Empowerment of small firmsfirms

Smart XchangeSmart Xchange E-community strategyE-community strategy

ICT-CITIES-GOVERNANCE

SPATIAL

COOP. GOVT.

ICT & NPM

NETWORKS

ACCESS

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION Holistic frameworkHolistic framework IntegrationIntegration Organisational difficultiesOrganisational difficulties Central driverCentral driver Socio-community aspects to be Socio-community aspects to be

considered more carefullyconsidered more carefully Digital city v.s. Smart Communities?Digital city v.s. Smart Communities?