According to Mokwing Nhlapo, deputy director-general of the DOC: “The Dinaledi schools project, which was announced last year, aims to provide connectivity to 500 South African schools in rural, disadvantaged communities and to increase the number of science and mathematics graduates, and grow the number of students who would ultimately enter engineering and ICT fields.”
The post office says it was mandated by the Department of Communications and the initiative forms part of its plans to implement ICT in rural areas.
“We were tasked by government to provide e-mail access to all South Africans,” says SAPO CEO Motshoanetsi Lefoka. “We see providing e-mail access to students in Dinaledi schools as an entry point into those communities that cannot be reached, because the children are the representatives of the community.”
Read more: South Africa: SAPO to provide schools with e-mail
That is the word from the communications department, which is in charge of making sure that the big switch from analogue to digital broadcasting happens by 2011.
“There are no signs to suggest that we will not be ready by 2011. One of our goals is to speed up uptake and use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) among South Africans,” department spokesman Joe Makhafola said.
Read more: South Africa: Government vows to meet digital-TV deadline
A significant number of service delivery initiatives in the public sector are now ICT-driven. As an organisation, MTN Business has been given the opportunity to assist government with solutions to connect with its citizens in various situations, using more cost-effective and efficient communication tools.
Read more: South Africa: Mobile connectivity the way forward for public sector
However, unlike even the biggest of companies, governments have literally millions - sometimes hundreds of millions - of customers, since every citizen is, in effect, a customer to whom government is obliged to deliver services.
Read more: South Africa's SITA showcases achievements, demonstrates will to meet challenges