A SOUTH AFRICAN DEVELOPMENTAL PERSPECTIVE ON E-GOVERNMENT Enslin j. van Rooyen Liza C. van Jaarsveldt School of Public Management and Administration University of Pretoria South Africa ABSTRACT H government: .. s .•• 'S ..• .•. W.itr.i.n. fo .•... O ... r- mation and communication to Improve IOteracti()l1wlth (;on- stituents. Currently, the extent of possibilities thatinf o rmatfo na nQcQlJ1- munications technology pose to governments in function, are innumerable. The South ber of e-government initiatives since its incepti<:m tives involve state-of-the-art technology '" ..• • prominent developed countries as far as e-goyernmentp'a. However, it should be noted that South Africa is aneme extensive development challenges. For. mented, a number of pitfalls should be avoided. In aq<liiti investment, both human and otherwise fore, it is appropriate to scrutinise international best paper serves to identify South Africa's highlights some of the issues for consideration'tnthis reg;lrtl: INTRODUCTION nformation and communications technology (ICT) has changed the way government in all spheres interact and communicate with each other and with its citizens. Traditionally, governments primarily communicated with their citizens through means of public meetings or the printed media. During the first half of the 20th century, with improvements in technology, it became fashionable for leaders to utilise radio commu- recent times the information and communications technology revolution yielded immense opportunities for public institutions and public functionaries to communicate with their communities. Modern day electronic government-models employ the most modern information and communication technologies, for example to use the Internet and satellites to deliver effi- cient and cost effective services, information and knowledge. Across the world, public organizations are embarking onto e-government initiatives by publishing substantial vol- umes of salient information on the Internet. E-government initiatives enable citizens to access government documents, order publications, file taxes, reserve records and renew licenses and permits from any location with an Internet connection (http://wwvv. aspanet.org). GOVERNANCE THROUGH THE INTERNET A s an example, in the United States of America, the FirstGov website provides citi- ......•.. ", zens with free access to online information, recourses and services. With FirstGov it is possible to access more then 51 million pages of government information. On the opposite side of the globe, the Australian government's Fed.gov.au-system of e- government is heralded as leading the Asian-Pacific region in the transition to e-govern- ment. It provides access to, and provides information on the Australian parliament, the Australian public service gazette and various public services. The use of information technology to provide services in the United States of America and Australia can be seen as two examples of what the developed world are capable of doing with regard to e-government. It is however also important to look at how develop- ing countries are making use of new technologies to deliver services to citizens. One of the examples of how a developing country is making use of technology is the online delivery of municipal services in Vijaywada, India. Vijaywada is a city with approximately one million residents. The city is a major agri- cultural centre. The residents face various difficulties including making various trips to the municipality to obtain services. With funding from the Federal Ministry of IT, citizens can now go to anyone of five kiosks that were set up in different parts of the city. These kiosks can provide citizens with information about the municipal budget, status of tax payments, grievance registration, birth and death certificates and it is also possible to advertise space available for lease. The online system has resulted in services being ren- dered more quickly to citizens (http://www.worldbank.org). nications for this purpose. Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, for instance This is just one example of how technology can benefit the developing world. South made extensive use of radio communications to inform their citizenship of state affairs. Africa has both characteristics of a developed and a developing country. Later-on J. F. Kennedy utilised new television technologies for this purpose. However, in "" \/.,d no 1 '$ 20fL1 I A SOUTH AFRICAN DEVELOPMENTAL PERSPECTIVE ON E-GOVERNMENT Enslin ). van Rooyen Liza C. van )aarsveldt School of Public Management and Administration University of Pretoria South Africa ABSTRACT H istorically, government.s utilis:d .te.ch .. n.o .. lo .. g •. i.e.s •.••... a •... s •.. ··.s .•....•• oc .•.........i .. a •• e •...... d .•...•.• w i •. th .•.•............... In .....•... fO ....•.r .• -. mation and communICation to Improve mteracti(lll wIth tbetT con- stituents. Currently, the extent of possibilities thatinformation and C()I'Tl- munications technology pose to governrnentsiJl function, are innumerable. The South Africa\, ber of e-government initiatives since its incepti<:Jn i.n .. §pme of • tives involve state-of-the-art technology and... prominent developed countries as far as e-g?\feronrnent However, it should be noted that South AfrrcalSaf\em extensive development challenges. For mented a number of pitfalls should In q,d investm'ent, both human and otherwise . •.•• if.f fore, it is appropriate to scrutinise pra:ip ..v"; IS paper serves to identify South Africa's highlights some of the issues for consideratiol'l1nthis regard.: . .'. . INTRODUCTION I nformation and communications technology (ICT) has changed the w. ay in all spheres interact and communicate othe.r With Its Citizens. Traditionally, governments primarily communicated With their citizens through mea.ns of public meetings or the printed media. During the first half of the ?Oth ce.ntur y , With improvements in technology, it became fashionable for to radiO nications for this purpose. Franklin D. Roosevelt and Churc.hill, for made extensive use of radio communications to inform their CItizenship of state affalr.s. Later-on ). F. Kennedy utilised new television technologies for this purpose. However, In recent times the information and communications technology revolution yielded immense opportunities for public institutions and public functionaries to communicate with their communities. Modern day electronic government-models employ the most modern information and communication technologies, for example to use the Internet and satellites to deliver effi- cient and cost effective services, information and knowledge. Across the world, public organizations are embarking onto e-government initiatives by publishing substantial vol- umes of salient information on the Internet. E-government initiatives enable citizens to access government documents, order publications, file taxes, reserve records and renew licenses and permits from any location with an Internet connection (http://www. aspanet.org). GOVERNANCE THROUGH THE INTERNET A s an example, in the United States of America, the FirstGov website provides citi- .•..........•.. '. free access to online recourses and services. With FirstGov It IS pOSSible to access more then 51 million pages of government information. On the opposite side of the globe, the Australian government's Fed.gov.au-system of e- government is heralded as leading the Asian-Pacific region in the transition to e-govern- ment. It provides access to, and provides information on the Australian parliament, the Australian public service gazette and various public services. The use of information technology to provide services in the United States of America and Australia can be seen as two examples of what the developed world are capable of doing with regard to e-government. It is however also important to look at how develop- ing countries are making use of new technologies to deliver services to citizens. One of the examples of how a developing country is making use of technology is the online delivery of municipal services in Vijaywada, India. Vijaywada is a city with approximately one million residents. The city is a major agri- cultural centre. The residents face various difficulties including making various trips to the municipality to obtain services. With funding from the Federal Ministry of IT, citizens can now go to anyone of five kiosks that were set up in different parts of the city. These kiosks can provide citizens with information about the municipal budget, status of tax payments, grievance registration, birth and death certificates and it is also possible to advertise space available for lease. The online system has resulted in services being ren- dered more quickly to citizens (http://www.worldbank.org). This is just one example of how technology can benefit the developing world. South Africa has both characteristics of a developed and a developing country.