During the past few years an increasing number of Southern African NGOs have started to use ICTs in support of their development work. However, the impact of and exposure to ICTs by the NGOs in general continue to be limited. At the same time, although ICTs present NGOs with many new opportunities, they also challenge the very way in which these organisations have conducted their work historically.

The growth and expansion of ICT applications, and their use and relevance to NGOs, therefore raise a number of key questions as far as their impact on these organisations and their target groups are concerned.

On 27 March 2003 SANGONeT launched Thetha: The SANGONeT ICT Discussion Forum, a new series of one-day discussion forums which focus on the role and relevance of ICTs to the NGO sector in South Africa.

The objectives of Thetha forums are the following:

• To highlight and promote the practical benefits and opportunities provided by ICTs to South African NGOs;

• To provide South African NGOs with an opportunity to reflect on the impact of ICTs on their work and to share lessons and experiences of common concern.

Thetha is a Nguni verb meaning talk, discuss, debate and share opinions.

Thetha forums focus specifically on the ICT challenges facing the NGO sector, highlighting and promoting practical benefits, opportunities and lessons learned to date. They provide an opportunity to both NGOs which are ICT-enabled, as well as those organisations which are considering introducing ICT solutions to their work, with an opportunity to discuss issues of common concern and learn from one another’s experiences.

Thetha forums form part of SANGONeT’s broader objective to increase the use, application and awareness of ICTs within the NGO sector in South Africa.

Starting in July 2006, SANGONeT expanded the Thetha initiative to the rest of Southern Africa. Thethas were held in Namibia, Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho and Angola.