Non-governmental organisation (NGOs) gathered at the SANGONeT conference during the 'Community Access to ICTs' session brought the digital divide issue high on the agenda.

The one thing that all the presenters agreed upon is the seriousness of the topic, arguing that the NGO sector has to take up the challenge of ensuring that marginalised people in South Africa get access to ICTs. 

James Theledi, Chief Executive Officer for the Universal Service and Access Agency (USAASA), noted that digital technologies in South Africa remain expensive tools used only by a few.

He posed a challenge to the NGO sector, asking what is the sector doing to ensure that this access is distributed to everyone in the country.  “As much as we support competition in the ICT sector, we must make that the prices are affordable and that people can afford,” said Theledi.

The NGO sector has a role to play in ensuring that access to ICTs is distributed amongst all the communities. Theledi made the argument that ICTs are used as a communication tool and as such to deprive people of this access infringes on people’s right to communication.

Lungile Lose, Community Affairs Manager for Microsoft SA, highlights the urgent need for the wide spread of ICTs to marginalised people that need the tools the most. “Yet despite the benefits if ICTs the benefits have not been spread,” bemoans Lose.

Ultimately, the argument that came out strongly from the presenters was that ICTs shoulds be viewed as enabler that promotes development, and as such access to ICTs is an issue that should be brought very high the on the NGO agenda.

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