PROPOSAL FOR FREE WIFI TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE
PUBLIC SERVICES BY MAKING USE OF E-GOVERNANCE
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 E-GOVERNANCE ................................................................................ 3 THE LEGAL AND GOVERNMENTAL PERSPECTIVE .......................................................... 4 SUCCESS STORIES OF SOUTH AFRICA USING E-GOVERNANCE TO BENEFIT THE
PUBLIC .................................................................................................................................. 4 ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES ..................................................................................... 5
E-SERVICES TO GOVERNMENT AND ITS CITIZENS ........................................................ 6 2 INTRODUCTION TO E-GOVERNANCE
1
Defined broadly, e-Governance is the use of Information Communication Technology
(ICT) to promote more efficient and effective governance, facilitate more accessible
Government services, allow greater public access to information, and make
Government more accountable to citizens. e-Governance has emerged beyond
electronic service delivery and is part of the ongoing reform and transformation of
government, enabling participatory governance and partnerships to improve efficiency
and effectiveness.
e-Governance should not be viewed as a replacement for the current operation
method, but as a supplementary tool in order to provide more effective governance to
the public. The success of e-Governance is based on a relationship between the
public sector, the private sector, and most importantly, the citizens. Active participation
and openness to new technology will transform the attitude and willingness of citizens
when interacting with the Government.
2
As an umbrella concept, e-governance includes:
1. e-Service (interface with customers)
2. e-Commerce (cash transactions)
3. e-Democracy (political dialogue with citizen)
4. e-Decision-making (better informed public interest decisions)
5. e-Management (improved management of ICT resources and staff)
1
The Working Group on E-‐Government in the Developing World, “Roadmap for E-‐government in the Developing World, 10 Questions E-‐Government Leaders Should Ask Themselves”, April 2002:1. 2
Van der Walt, G. 2002. E-‐Governance: Where do we stand and what are the challenges? Administratio Publica, 11(2). 3 THE LEGAL AND GOVERNMENTAL PERSPECTIVE
Evaluating section 152 of the Constitution of South Africa, it is conspicuous that the
strategic objectives of COGTA relates to that of Local Governance. The objectives
from both mandates are to promote social and economic development, to strengthen
accountability and provide a democratic government for local communities, to foster
development partnerships by encouraging the involvement of communities in local
government matters, to accelerate service delivery in a sustainable manner and to
support the vulnerable. 3
A number of policy measures have been identified as critical in creating an enabling
environment for the implementation of e-Government and include:
1. Minimum Information Security Standards (MISS)
2. Handbook on Minimum Interoperability Standards (MIOS)
3. Electronic Communications Transaction Act of 2002, and the
4. Law Commission Issue Paper on Privacy Public Service Act
SUCCESS STORIES OF SOUTH AFRICA USING E-GOVERNANCE TO
BENEFIT THE PUBLIC
The South African Revenue Service (SARS), has successfully implemented the efiling system, which enables tax payers to file their tax returns electronically. With the
e-filing system, a taxpayer’s IRP5 is loaded automatically, which saves time and effort,
as opposed to standing in long queues to manually complete the required forms.
SARS has even gone a step beyond by adding an online help service, with a capable
consultant who will call you immediately when you have requested the service. By
adding this option, SARS has created job opportunities along with more proficient
usage of their services.
3 Farelo, M. & Morris, C. The Status of E-‐governance in South Africa. 2006:5. 4 Most municipalities have transformed their red tape method to an easy, accessible
and digitalised way of operandi. 4The goal of e-Governance is to transcend traditional
organisational boundaries and provide customers with a true ‘one stop shopping
experience’ for Government services online. With an updated website, Municipalities
have placed official documentation, public information such as supply chain
management procedures for tenders, news and notices, warnings, online registration
forms and contact details of the various functions in a Municipality, on their portal. This
information can be viewed and downloaded without entering a Municipal building. A
thorough record of all payable services is kept online, thus no duplication or loss of
documentation occurs during the payment process.
ADVANTAGES AND CHALLENGES
When considering the economic advantages of e-Governance, the possibilities are
endless. As new technology evolves, new ideas and markets open up for the public to
take initiative and build on their own development. By providing guidelines, platforms
and online consulting services, an ordinary citizen has the opportunity to create their
own small enterprise that can deliver local products or services that not only benefit
themselves, but the economy as a whole.
Linking to economic growth, the reduction in cost of making use of an e-Governance
system could mean a better re-allocation of funds to improve development and
sustainability. E-Governance spreads over a wide variety of ways to connect. Not only
by using the world wide web, but to make use of free applications such as Viber (free
phone calls and messages to friends and family), Whatsapp (free messages, sending
of pictures, videos, location, contacts and voice notes), Skype (free online videocalling application) and other social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter,
government can easily connect with citizens in a more cost- effective manner.
4 Hobbs, I. 2001. ‘Incentives will speed arrival of quality e-‐government.’ Government Computer News, 20(16) 25 June: 46 5 Human beings in general are reluctant to change. A great majority of bureaucratic
systems and outdated methods of the relationship between citizen and governance is
due to resistance from decision-makers. 5However, the South African Government
followed a consultative process in terms of achieving “buy-in” from all Government
stakeholders. E-Government has generally been accepted as the term governing
general aspects of modernising government’s busines processes and it has been
mandated by the Governance and Administration Cluster of Cabinet to the
Department of Public Service and Administration to forge a common approach to the
understanding and implementation of e-Government.
Through e-Governance, a Government can now strive to achieve the goals of a
private sector business. Through online communication with citizens and the provision
of information and assistance, trust between citizen and government is established.
6
Government and businesses are using the same tools to transform themselves, such
as electronic commerce, customer relationship management (CRM) and knowledge
management.
E-SERVICES TO GOVERNMENT AND ITS CITIZENS
A case study of the Town of Pepperell, USA, provides insight in the short and long
term benefits held by connectivity and specifically the reduced cost of a free WiFi
approach. The Town of Pepperell found that the network improved emergency
preparedness, increased efficiency of municipal services and encouraged business
development, simultaneously erasing the digital divide. The direct benefits were
reduced telecommunications cost with respect to phone and internet connections.
Other new technology features that can be used to optimize the network include
communications via VOIP, establishing VPNs and communicating with smart meters,
telemetry (remote measurement) of dams and control of pumps and the use of CCTV,
impacting safety and quality of life.
5 Farelo, M & Morris, C. 2002. The Status of E-‐governance in South Africa. 2006:9. 6 Van der Walt, G. 2002. E-‐Governance: Where do we stand and what are the challenges? Administratio Publica, 11(2). 6 7
Other E-Services offered to various stakeholders are designed to streamline
interaction with government by providing access 24/7. Services and website strategies
observed and that are available in terms of best practices in other countries and
offered online to employees, citizens and government as an institution are:
•
Online payments
•
Online permit centers
•
Customer service centers
•
Search of public records
•
Document centers
•
FAQs
•
Bids
•
Employment opportunities
•
Social media and information sharing
•
City census
•
Online submit forms
•
Online maps
•
Where to vote and related info
•
Free WiFi access
•
Employee portal
•
Contact us
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 e-governance as a developmental
government and Constitutional mandate and NDP objective.
7 www.worcesterma.gov accessed on 14 March 2015 7