Modern information technologies have brought about big change in the world we live in. Communication has become quick and more efficient. Such modern information technologies include the use of the internet (World Wide Web) and smartphones. However not everyone is able to benefit from using information technologies because they can’t afford it or are not literate enough to operate it. The digital divide has always been what separates our world into two concerning technology. According to Rouse (2005) the digital divide refers to how the world is divided into the people who have access to and those that do not have access to the means of modern information technology. this essay will attempt to coment on the digital divide on the democracy of South Africa.
Just like many other countries, South Africa is also affected by the digital divide. Especially in terms of economic and political processes. Nowadays Governments use modern information technologies to be able to interact with the people through e-government. E-government is a term used to describe ways in which the government agencies use information technologies to interact and have relations with citizens, businesses and other arms of government (Themat,2004). For instance government agencies are able to interact and deliver government services and information to the citizens through the internet. Government officials have social network accounts such as twitter to be able to send information to people quicker and receive instant feedback. This method of E-government makes it easy for citizens to partake in political decision making and have their say in on how the country should be run.
E-Government meant better government services to the public, citizen empowerment, less corruption, efficient government management and improved interactions with the government. However the digital divide does not make it easy for all citizens to participate because not everyone has access to modern information technologies. Therefor one could suggest that many people are left voiceless and are put at a disadvantage. The decisions made by the government do not always represent a majority of the society. For example in 2011 the South African government introduced E-toll a means of paying tax for using the roads. Many people interacted together and with government officials debating whether the new law should be passed. The majority of people were against it.
E-democracy refers to the use of information and communication technology and strategies by democratic sectors such as governments and political parties within the political processes of local communities/states and regions and nations (Johnson. G 2011). E-democracy puts a nation’s political process in a stage where the citizens are even able to vote for their political part via the internet. Technology is now advanced enough to allow government and political processes to be done using the internet. Clift. S (2003) said ‘...the influence of "e-democracy" actually reaches most of the public through its influence on the traditional media and through word of mouth via influential members of the community’. In my understanding of e-democracy, it is the future of what we call democracy now. Giving citizens the freedom to choose a life of empowerment easier than how it is done now, because we are given the freedom to makechoices for our country at the comfort of our homes.
SouthAfrica being affected by high levels of poverty in some parts of the country, it still has a high number of smartphone users who have access to the internt. young people especially are interested in social networks. This is one of the ways citizens are able to interact with the government. The South African government has taken initiative to tackle the digital divide by providing rural areas with network and internet access especially in schools. According to Themat,(2004) about 28 governemnt websites provide search facilities and interactions with the citizens of South Africa such as the Home Affairs department. They makes use of satelites to enable citzens in rural areas to apply for ID books.
in conclusion I think South Africa still has a lot of expansion and growth to complete in terms of E-goverment and E-democracy. The digital divide is what separates people and thus not everyone is able to recieve the same benefits or rights as those who have access to internet technologies. If governments can provide more online services it will make it easier for the people to interact with them and thus improve operations and services, effectiveness and expand access to government information. In a few years to come hopefully the majority of South African citezens will be able to have access to information technologies.
BIBLIOGRAPGHY
Clift. S. 2003 e-democracy, e-governance and public net-work. Available: www.E-Democracy,E-Governance,andPublicNet-Work-Publicus_Net.mht
[accessed: 21 April 2013]
Johnson, G.F. 2011. What is e-democracy? Available:
www.e-demorcacy.weebly.com/what-is-edemocracy.html
Rouse. M. 2005. Definition of digital divide. Available:
www.search-midmarket.techtarget.com/definition/digitaldivide [accessed: 21 April 2013]
Themat, C. 2004. The digital divide: Implications for South Africa. South African journal of Information management, 6 (3): 12-19.
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