© Kamla-Raj 2015 J Communication, 6(1): 229-235 (2015) Assessing the Role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Enhancing Employees’ Performance in a Selected Local Government Administration (LGA) in South Africa Akeem Adewale Oyelana * and D. Reckson Thakhathi Department of Public Administration, University of Fort Hare, Alice, P.B. X1314, Eastern Cape, 5700, South Africa E-mail: 1 <201100592@ufh.a.za>, 2 <rthakhathi@uhf.ac.za> KEYWORDS ICT Assessment. Enhancement of Employees. Job Performance ABSTRACT The operations and utilization of ICT are not well understood and have rarely been addressed both, nationally and internationally. The aim of this research is therefore to establish a base level of understanding of the operational core values of ICT in developing countries. The study used a qualitative research design that involves a desktop research. Data was collected through the review and analysis of available published or existing documents. Data analysis included using the documentary analysis derived from the journals, and books as well as reviewing the various data analysis done in relation to the assessment of the role of ICT in enhancing employees’ performance. Findings from previous literature revealed that there are constraints faced in the operations and utilization of ICT. The study confirmed some of the operational challenges to include lack of IT skills, and lack of clear understanding of ICT as well as training. This study provides an effective solution to identified challenges and impact as well as strategies to be adopted in order to reduce the failure rate of ICT. The implications of the findings are that unless the limitations named above are resolved, ICT in the developing nations will continue to experience poor service delivery, poor economic growth and development. Management of the municipality must ensure that adequate training in the use of ICTs is given to the employees in order to enhance performance. Authors: Prof. Oyelana Akeem Adewale Department of Public Administration, University of Fort Hare, Alice, P.B. X1314, Eastern Cape, 5700, South Africa Cell: +27837286640 E-mail: 201100592@ufh.ac.za Prof. D. Reckson Thakhathi PhD. Department of Public Administration, University of Fort Hare, Alice, P.B. X1314, Eastern Cape, 5700, South Africa E-mail: rthakhathi@uhf.ac.za *Address correspondence to: INTRODUCTION This paper presents a brief background of the study, defines the various forms of Informa- tion Communication Technology (ICT) and spells out the research problem and the research objectives. The importance of Information and Communication Technological (ICT) as well as the challenges and impact of ICT are also dis- cussed. The literature review, research method- ology, and limitations of the study are also dis- cussed. Finally, the disposition of the paper is exposed. Information and Communication Technolo- gy (ICT) have an important “role to play in the innovative system of local authority. Innova- tive ICT can provide the technological infrastruc- ture on which complicated organizations can be sustained. They may also provide the capability to influence exterior generated information so that local agencies are enhanced in order to be able to understand the economic and social back- ground and make balancing policies to react to them” (Pratchett 1999:736). According to Khali- fa et al. (2004) cited in Gichoya (2005:178), Infor- mation and Communication Technology (ICT) Assessment can be defined as bringing in both, quantitative and qualitative methods and use- fulness of the ICT to the organization. The man- agement and employees’ job performance can- not be concluded as good or bad without the valuable introduction of the ICT policies that enhanced the local government efficiency in South Africa. The scientific or equipped intro- duction of ICT infrastructure is of paramount importance to enhance the effective operation and administration of local government efficien- cy successfully. According to Fletcher et al. (2004:4), ICT is an application process within the firm, and could also be used as transactions with customers and suppliers. They further stressed, “It is important to note that ICT in- volves several stakeholders including the orga- nization that concludes the transactions, its cus- tomers and suppliers”.