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 PROPOSAL FOR FREE WIFI TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION
Free WiFi For Africa NPC, trading as Project Isizwe
NPO Registration 133-371 NPO
156 DORP STREET, STELLENBOSCH, 7600, SOUTH AFRICA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION .............................................. 3
THE LEGAL AND GOVERNMENTAL PERSPECTIVE ............................................. 4
AN INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDY ON COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
THROUGH TECHNOLOGY: PARAGUAY'S POVERTY SPOTLIGHT ...................... 5
PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE ADVANTAGES FOR COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION THROUGH WIFI ............................................................................ 6
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INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
Public participation is defined as an open, accountable process through which
individuals and groups within selected communities can exchange views and influence
decision-making. 1
Experience from elsewhere around the world suggests that improving public
participation in government can enhance good government in at least eight important
ways which are set out in the following table:
The Benefits of Public Participation
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Increased level of information in the Community
2
Better identification of needs for the Community
3
Improved service delivery
4
Community empowerment
5
Greater accountability
6
Better wealth distribution
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Greater community solidarity
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Greater tolerance of diversity
1
National Policy Framework on Public Participation. 2007 (7).
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In the context of public participation, a community is defined as a ward. Ward
committees consist of ten individuals plus the ward councilor who, according to the
Act, must be the chairperson of the committee.2 The responsibilities of these ward
committees include assisting the ward councilor in identifying challenges and needs of
residents; receiving queries and complaints from residents concerning municipal
service delivery, communicating these to council and providing feedback to the
community on council’s response and disseminating information in the ward
concerning municipal affairs, e.g. the budget, IDP, performance management system,
service delivery options and municipal properties.
THE LEGAL AND GOVERNMENTAL PERSPECTIVE
The Constitution of South Africa Chapter 7 section 152, clearly states the objectives of
local government. When focusing on the fifth objective, “to encourage the involvement
of communities and community organisations in the matters of local government”, it is
evident that public participation is an essential component of community development.
It is the responsibility of local government to include the public in decisions that
influence the public’s life. 3
Parliament and provincial legislatures have common mechanisms to ensure that the
public has the ability to engage in law making through education, outreach and
information dissemination; the ability to propose, comment or criticize in both written
(petitions) as well as oral (pre-hearings and hearings) form. These mechanisms
unquestionably promote Public Participation, although they also have limitations. 4
2
The Role of Ward Committees in enhancing Participatory Local Governance and Development in
South Africa. 2008 (8).
3
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa No. 108. 1996. 13331(2)
4
Public Participation Framework for the South African Legislative Sector. 2013 (36). 4
The limitations currently experienced are due to factors such as the following:
1) People are not at home when community development workers visit them
2) People need to travel to the hearings – cost involved
3) People are not educated enough to understand legislation and sign petitions
4) People are not aware of hearings/opportunities to voice their needs and
opinions
AN INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDY ON COMMUNITY
PARTICIPATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY: PARAGUAY'S POVERTY
SPOTLIGHT
The project started out with an NGO that created Poverty Spotlight to
understand and address the household-specific constraints that keep families
below the poverty line. 5 The approach uses household-level poverty
assessments and action plans and delivers opportunities to access microcredit,
support for microenterprise development and access to client networks.
By making use of a smart phone application, a community member would complete a
survey with indicators that address six dimensions of poverty: income and
employment, health and environment, housing and infrastructure, education and
culture, organization and participation, and “interiority and motivation,” which includes
measures such as self-esteem and entrepreneurial spirit.
With this information, the microfinance agents create a family development plan. The
goal is to have a green light and basic tasks are provided for the community members
in order to achieve the green light.
Bringing this initiative to South Africa through a program that the Government hosts on
their website, community members will be able to access the survey via the free WiFi
5
USAID: Paraguay’s Poverty Spotlight: Focusing on Women and Markets for Innovation, Tangible
Success. 2014. [Online]. Available: http://www.usaid.gov/frontiers/2014/publication/section-1paraguays-poverty-spotlight-focusing-women-and-markets-innovation
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and will be able to determine their own state of poverty and receive guidelines to the
measures they need to take in order to live a better, more sustainable life.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE ADVANTAGES FOR
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION THROUGH WIFI
By introducing WiFi in the homes of the community, participation can radically be
digitalised. The community will now have access to the internet in order to educate
themselves on legislation and their rights as citizens. They will be able to download
the schedule of hearings, petitions and when community workers will be in their area
to distribute or collect information.
1. Platform for Information Sharing
By creating a WiFi-network, ward councilors will be able to communicate with one
another on a site/page/programme. Video-conferencing; feedback sheets, FAQs,
challenges and solution forums are all tools that the site/page/programme will be able
to host in order for the councilors to operate more effectively. The needs identified and
the challenges faced might be similar from ward to ward and through information
sharing, solutions and case studies can be accessed to produce a well-researched
and practical alternative.
2. E-mail address
With an e-mail address and access to the internet via free WiFi, the community
member will be able to report various issues to the municipality before, during or after
they happen. These issues can be related to anything in the community, such as
crime, domestic violence, a burst pipe or a safety concern. By using this method, the
municipality’s response rate will significantly increase and they will be able to deliver
services more effectively. The factor of preventative response will also benefit not only
the community, but the cost of the municipality.
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3. WiFi TV
WiFi TV is hyper-local news and entertainment created by local journalists and
uploaded to Free WiFi networks for the entire community. Young film makers from the
City of Tshwane created content that is presented on five channels, providing
information about local community happenings and giving the members of the
community a voice, because they are being educated through this method of WiFi TV.
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The videos provide insight into the daily news, success stories of how free WiFi has
influenced community members and a question and answer session with the Mayor on
topics relevant to the community.7 Free WiFi TV enables the City of Tshwane to get
further insight into the lives of its citizens and communicate directly with them via
video without being restricted by the data costs traditionally involved in video delivery.
“We are very proud to announce that WiFi TV has enjoyed 1 million viewers in
February 2015 alone,” says Alan Knott-Craig Jr.
Tshwane
Free WiFi
IN NUMBERS
Dec 2013 to April 2015
14 Million +
sessions logged in total
525 000 +
unique users since launch
30 000 +
unique users per day logging on
TV
4 Million +
views on WiFi TV since Nov 2014
80 000 +
unique users on Bus WiFi
Figure 1: Statistics on Tshwane’s success in partnering with Project Isizwe.
6
Bizcommunity. 2015. WiFi TV sees growth in citizen journalism. [Online]. Available:
http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/356/123893.html
7
BizNis Africa. 2015. Project Isizwe WiFi TV hits 1 million views. [Online]. Available:
http://www.biznisafrica.co.za/project-isizwe-wifi-tv-hits-1-million-views/
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Project Isizwe, a Non-Profit Organisation came up with an innovative solution to offer
free WiFi as a basic service which will allow for the internet access embarked on by
the three spheres of government. Project Isizwe and its approach to facilitate the
establishment of Free Internet Zones is detailed in the accompanying information. A
partnership with Isizwe will result in increased levels of connectivity, affordable WiFi
and the envisaged outcomes of improved community participation as the fundamental
basis of developmental local government.
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