The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated a migration from physical work spaces in many sectors of the economy to online, digital services, supported by staff working from home. Parts of the economy such as mining, manufacturing and hospitality still require workers to be physically present. But other sectors have discovered that virtual platforms are effective substitutes for offices.
Online, however, requires digital infrastructure and services in information and communication technology (ICT). Digital infrastructure is essential to meet the new demand for virtual services as quickly and cheaply as possible. On top of this the potential of digital technologies to support economic growth is apparent. Many developing countries have comprehensive national strategies and initiatives to foster data mining, digital intelligence, e-government and e-commerce. These include India and China.
Read more: South Africa has failed to harness the digital revolution: how it can fix the problem
The report that outlines SA’s strategy and planned response to the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) has been gazetted.
This comes shortly after Cabinet approved its publication, charting a way forward for the framework that makes recommendations on how best the country can position itself in the global 4IR context.
Compiled by the Presidential Commission on 4IR (PC4IR), the report was promulgated in the Government Gazette dated 23 October 2020.
Read more: It’s time for a revolution: Government gazettes SA’s 4IR blueprint
The lockdown proved to be an eye-opener in terms of how far South Africa must still go to overcome the digital divide, and bring millions of citizens into the digital economy.
This is according to speakers at a webinar endorsed by the Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA), on narrowing the digital divide to provide available and affordable Internet access for all South Africans.
Read more: Pandemic highlights the reality of SA’s digital divide
Now is the opportune moment to drive grassroots digitisation within SA’s economic and social structures, says Ryan Jamieson, CTO at Altron Karabina.
Although it is undeniably difficult to look back to February 2020 while still in the midst of a global pandemic, reflection can, in fact, reveal the many positive developments (and lessons) that the crisis has brought.
Read more: Embracing SA’s digital shifts to drive long-term economic growth post COVID-19
Although it is undeniably difficult to look back to February 2020 while still in the midst of a global pandemic, reflection can, in fact, reveal the many positive developments (and lessons) that the crisis has brought.
From a digital transformation perspective, February was significant in that it marked the month of South Africa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), in which government outlined key initiatives that would place the country on track to realise economic growth through large-scale digitisation. These initiatives included three key focus areas:
- grassroots development – bringing coding and robotics to primary schools;
- higher learning – including plans to build a new University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni; and
- the development of a world-class smart city.