IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

The latest agreements between Saudi Arabia and South Africa, as the continent’s gateway, bode well for Africa in the fields of technological advancement and green energy alternatives, but Africa and the world’s 5G plans are set to come under fire at United Nations COP 27

With Saudi’s smart city, The Line, setting the pace as part of the Neom Mega City Project, and South Africa’s aspirations for three smart cities – Pretoria’s Mooikloof Mega City, the Eastern Cape’s African Coastal Smart City and Lanseria Smart City (interfacing Gauteng and Madiberg municipalities) – already well underway in the planning stages, things are looking rosy for South Africa’s chances for keeping up with world developments.

In South Africa, the vision of smart cities is more than just an aspiration – it’s a potential solution to some of the country’s most pressing urban challenges.

From traffic congestion to unreliable water supply and waste management inefficiencies, municipalities are struggling to deliver essential services to a growing population. While some regions have made progress with isolated projects, such as public bike-sharing schemes or ‘smart’ waste bins, these piecemeal efforts fall short of the true potential of smart cities.

As cities in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) experience rapid growth, the concept of smart cities, driven by innovative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), presents an extraordinary potential to revolutionise urban infrastructure and services. At the core of this transformation lies Lenovo’s Smart Cities initiative, harmonising AI expertise with the promise of smarter technology for all.

Smart cities are not just technological marvels; they embody the integration of technology, data, and citizen-centric solutions to optimise urban living. A smart city leverages AI, Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, and automation to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and the ‘livability’ of urban environments. By seamlessly connecting people, processes, and devices, a smart city essentially addresses critical urban challenges while laying the foundation for future generations.

The launch of various local cloud platforms is a defining moment in the digitisation of companies and governments across the continent, says Peter Reid, Executive Head of Intervate South Africa, a T-Systems company.

The launch of various local cloud platforms is a defining moment in the digitisation of companies and governments across the continent, says Peter Reid, Executive Head of Intervate South Africa, a T-Systems company.

The Ministry reports that a special column for submission of e-appeals was opened at its official website (www.mlspp.gov.az).

Pule was speaking after last week’s information and communications technology (ICT) Indaba at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, held to discuss Africa’s interaction with the rest of the world.

Hosted by the national Communications Department, the indaba saw heads of communications from across Africa gathering to discuss ICT system development – identified as a major contributor to Africa’s growth.

The state’s incompetence is hindering connectivity as well as its own developmental goals, writes Dominic Cull

Universal access and service is designed to ensure that every South African, no matter how remote their dwelling may be, is able to connect to the national information and communications technology (ICT) framework and to the developmental and social resources available through it.

Universal service and access targets are set out in the South Africa Connect Broadband Policy, published in December 2013.

The long awaited ‘Broadband Policy for South Africa’ was published in Government Gazette 33377 yesterday, giving guidelines on Government’s plans to provide all citizens with broadband services by 2019.

“The vision of this policy is to ensure universal access to Broadband by 2019 by ensuring that South Africans are able to access Broadband either individually, or as a household, subscribe to a Broadband service, or are able to access a Broadband service directly or indirectly at a private or public access point,” the broadband policy states.

A group of organisations - including the APC, South Africa Connect, SANGONeT (Southern African NGO Network) and The Shuttleworth Foundation - are convening a one-day event as a first step towards drafting a framework for a national broadband strategy for South Africa.

Is South Africa truly ready for smart cities full of bullet trains and flying taxis?

According to Sunil Geness, director of global government affairs & CSR for Africa at SAP, smart cities hold enormous potential for improving the quality of life for millions of South Africans.

“Smart cities leverage technology to bring improvements to every aspect of the citizen experience, from affordable housing to education and work opportunities. With a fast-growing population and high levels of development, South Africa is well positioned to take advantage of the benefits of smart cities to improve the living conditions of millions of citizens.”

The IAB SA has kick-started a campaign for all South Africans to have free basic access to the Internet. As the right to information is one of our constitutional rights, it follows that South Africans should have the ability to access this information freely.

Chris Borain, chair of the IAB SA, says, “We believe in fostering digital equality among all citizens. While Icasa is taking great strides to address the high cost of data, a basic level of free Internet access is a separate issue that requires as much attention. All South Africans, especially vulnerable groups and those without access to mobile phones, have the right to access information online, from government services, employment opportunities or online education resources.”

Speaking at the e-government forum as part of the seventh annual African Computing and Telecommunications Summit in Sandton, Gilat Satellite SA's Africa manager, Wayne McDonald, said: “The way we run elections in Africa is similar to the way we conducted banking transactions 45 years ago.”

Noting that mHealth services could be distributed easily across the country due to the high mobile penetration rate, Bapela listed four key ways in which South Africa would benefit from such services. These included raising the average life expectancy, reducing infant mortality rates, fighting disease including HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, and augmenting the country’s health ecosystem.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG) have formed a strategic partnership that will leverage the CSIR’s resources, research and development (R&D) capabilities and facilities to enhance the capacity of government structures to deliver services efficiently and effectively.

The CSIR aims to support the DCoG through various R&D capabilities, such as geospatial technologies for effective disaster risk management and comprehensive environmental monitoring.

So says Khaya Ngcakani, Gijima Public Services' e-government consultant, who notes that SA's e-government initiatives are often large, 'big bang' initiatives that are almost always internally focused, and not necessarily informed by the socio-economic requirements of the bulk of the citizens.

According to the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), SA still remains holed in the first stage of maturity when it comes to e-government.

What is a smart city? For many, the answer is technology. A smart city is, by definition, a technologically modern urban area that uses different types of electronic methods and sensors (sometimes hundreds or thousands) to collect specific data.

In reality, it is data that makes a city smart, and it works because Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, cameras, and GPS devices collect information related to the city’s infrastructure and allow for real-time monitoring.

The digital revolution is reshaping governance worldwide. From the electronic filing of taxes to digital visa applications, technology is making government services more accessible, efficient and transparent.

South Africa is making progress in its digital journey. In 2024 it climbed to 40th place out of 193 countries, from 65th place in 2022, in the United Nations e-Government Index. This improvement makes the country one of Africa’s digital leaders, surpassing Mauritius and Tunisia.

South Africa is left with 10 years to achieve the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 Goals. These will remain a guide for the next government in terms of areas that need attention. The plan is in place and, therefore, there’s more of a need for implementation.

The country has a unique opportunity to use technology to achieve its goals in the next 10 years. This is what Estonia did to be ranked the second of all countries on the social progress index for personal and political rights.

There has been a significant change in how social grants are being delivered in South Africa in the past few years. What used to be a sluggish and paper intensive process is becoming more and more electronic. I have seen plenty of individuals enjoy this change - but not everybody has enjoyed it. We can discuss the way technology is changing the grant system at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and how this will impact millions of citizens.

From Queues to Clicks: The Digital Shift

Not long ago, it used to take people long queues to apply or enquire on their status of SASSA grant. It took hours to determine whether an application had been approved. Everything changed with the introduction of digital tools.

While there can be no doubt that digital transformation presents a massive opportunity for economic growth in Africa, it is critical to ensure that this growth is inclusive – and that it benefits women’s equality in the workplace, rather than harming it.

In context, according to the final draft of the ICT and Digital Economy Masterplan for South Africa, anecdotal evidence suggests that South Africa’s digital economy is growing and contributing anywhere between 2% and 19% to the country’s GDP. Globally, the digital economy is expected to grow to 24% of the world’s GDP by 2025.