Question NW1287 to the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
23 May 2016 - NW1287
Basson, Mr LJ to ask the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
(1)What meetings of (a) the National ICT Forum and (b) each of its four forums have taken place since 1 October 2015, in each case indicating (i) dates, (ii) venues of these meetings, as well as (iii) agendas and (iv) records of decisions made at each meeting; (2) Which (a) reports and/or (b) initiatives have been instigated by any of the specified forums, in each case providing the relevant details including (i) plans of action and (ii) deadlines where applicable?
Reply:
I have been advised by the Department as follows:-
1. (a) Since 1 October 2015, the National ICT Forum has held a number of meetings through its various structures, which comprises of the Chairpersons Forum, Chamber meetings and Working Committees.
(b) (i) Meeting Dates:
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- Chairpersons Forum – 30 November 2015, 11 March 2016 and 06 May 2016
- Economic Chamber – 3 March 2016
- Social Chamber – 27 November 2015 and 19 February 2016
- Governance and Security Chamber – 7 December 2015
- ICTs and Disability Chamber – 2 December 2015 and 17 March 2016
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(ii) Venues:
- Chairpersons Forum – Director General’s Boardroom (Department)
- Economic Chamber – Blue Crane Boardroom (Department)
- Social Chamber – Blue Crane boardroom (Department)
- Governance and Security Chamber – Blue Crane Boardroom (Department)
- ICTs and Disability Chamber – Burgherspark Hotel (Pretoria)
(iii) Agendas:
Chairpersons Forum – Stakeholder Mobilization and Participation, Resource Mobilization, Draft Work Programmes of Chambers, National Workshop
Economic Chamber – ICT Skills, ICT SMMEs support, Electronic Manufacturing, Postal Sector and ICTs
- Social Chamber – e-Health, e-Education, e-Justice and e-Agriculture
- Governance and Security Chamber – e-Commerce, Internet Governance, Policy Mapping and Cyber Security.
- ICTs and Disability Chamber – ICT Assistive Devices, Access to Government websites, Access to Banking Services
(iv) Records of decisions:
- Chambers have developed their Terms of Reference and firmed up their structures
- Chambers have now resolved and are prepared draft Work Programmes which still need to
- be approved by the department
- The Chairpersons Forum agreed to convene a National Workshop to discuss and endorse
- the draft Work Programmes
(2)(a) Reports and (b) Initiatives
Initiatives that are coming out of the draft work programmes of the chambers include the following:
- Conduct a National ICT Skills Audit with relevant stakeholders
- Develop and implement a basic National e-Literacy Programme
- Facilitate creation of Creative Hubs for SMMEs in townships with relevant support
- Support development of ICT applications that will enable SMMEs to expand business opportunities
- Develop and implement a Cybersecurity Awareness programme
- To develop a National set of Principles/framework for Internet Governance in South Africa
- Establish/ or revive an Intergovernmental Forum on Internet Governance
- Create a cybersecurity Body of Knowledge for general access by South Africans
- Explore Youth Job Creation Programme focusing on cybersecurity awareness
- Facilitate engagements with relevant to improve access to banking services, government websites, employment, education and broadcasting for people with disabilities.
A National Workshop will be convened before the end of June 2016 to discuss and endorse the draft programmes of each Chamber. The workshop will also discuss resource mobilization for implementation of the work programme and timelines.