Unity is Strength

Since I wrote the Leaping into 2006 post, I have talked to many of the stakeholders in the South African ICT sector, and I am even more convinced that this country needs a top-level, energetic, passionate and credible driver to unite the constituents and develop a strong and growing industry.

We have all the elements - we just fail dismally to synergise them and achieve critical mass. There is a vicious and downward spiralling circle, where business fails to present itself as world-class and capable, and government does not understand the economic value of a united ICT sector. Our government has set itself the target of meeting and beating a 6% growth on a sustainable basis. Think how easily that target could be exceeded if the full potential of the enabling effects of ICTs could be realised!

In September 2004, South Africa hosted the regular half-yearly meeting of the WITSA Steering & Public Policy Committees - and witnessed the initial agreement to form the African Federation of ICT Associations (AFICTA). Here are the optimistic statements made at the time - first, on behalf of the Minister for Trade & Industry:

MINISTER OF TRADE & INDUSTRY SPEECH TO WITSA DELEGATES, SEPTEMBER 27 2004, BAKUBUNG LODGE.

South Africa is delighted to be hosting the first gathering of WITSA members in Africa. It is indeed a pleasure to look around this room and see the number and variety of countries represented here. Most of you have travelled long distances to get here and we hope you have a suitably rewarding visit that will encourage you to return. Even our African colleagues, who have such attractions back home, will agree that the setting here in the Pilanesberg National Park is a delightful example of what this continent has to offer its visitors.

We understand that WITSA is an alliance of ICT industry associations from over 60 countries. Such industry associations serve a vital purpose in strengthening relationships and improving dialogue between the business sector and other stakeholders, particularly with government. They allow representative opinion to be developed and shared through agreement on shared principles and they provide a forum for debate of the issues of the day.

At the global level, you add value to the industry’s interaction with world-scale events, such as the World Summit on Information Society, the World Trade Organisation negotiations and the International Telecommunications Union. There is no doubt that the role of ICTs is a vital one in the development of the global economy and there must be an equivalent globalised supporting network of informed opinion helping to shape our usage of technology in the most beneficial manner.

In the developing economies, such as predominate in Africa, we have recognised that “bridging the digital divide” is an essential ingredient if we are to lift our societies from the legacy of poverty and ignorance. The provision of affordable access to ICTs through broadcasting, telecommunications and energy is the first step to giving people the knowledge they require to become economically active and to provide food and shelter for themselves instead of depending on handouts. The need to roll out infrastructure in ways that bring sustainable benefits is paramount in countries such as make up the African continent and a good proportion of the rest of the world.

First making this possible, then making it happen, in ways that promote good business and good governance is the result of effective partnerships between industry and government, and it is the industry associations that form a strong bond in these relationships.

Across this region, we are doing everything we can to realise the benefits, both economically and politically, of creating regional structures that synergise the resources of neighbouring territories and speed the process of development. Our African Union alliance has led to the New Economic Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD), and just a few days ago, we opened the Pan African Parliament in Midrand, near Johannesburg. Against that background, we are pleased to hear of the formation of the African Federation of ICT Associations (AFICTA) yesterday. This regional association will improve cooperation between the countries contributing to the NEPAD initiatives and promote the collective capacity of African ICT enterprises to develop and implement solutions.

That Africa has this capacity is not in doubt. This continent is experiencing rapid growth in mobile telephony, has pioneered the use of satellite pay TV and the use of pre-payment systems for the supply of electricity and water. In South Africa, we have shown our ability to match the best in the world in the manufacture of motor vehicles, defence systems and digital security. We have become the home of a growing number of call centre seats and have harnessed local talent to support our technologically advanced gambling and leisure industry.

In seeking solutions to our development challenges, we have created a number of initiatives. Our State President has an International Advisory Council, made up of top executives from multinational technology companies, and a National Commission on Information Society and Development, which brings together the top local figures from the sector. Within my own Department, we have set up a marketing programme called SAVANT – South Africa’s Technology Vanguard, promoting our ICT potential in markets that may be more familiar with us as a source of minerals, wines and fruit than of decoders, avionics and systems engineers. We are also addressing the issues of transforming our society into a true economic democracy as well as a political one, through the implementation of black economic empowerment measures.

Where possible, such initiatives are a partnership between the public and private sectors. The last ten years have taught us the value of negotiation and of listening to the opinions of our stakeholders before embarking on new courses, or introducing new legislation. Success is not always guaranteed, of course, but there is no doubt of the value of having the right representatives at the table and of sharing the resources and responsibilities of government and industry.

Finally, we have heard about the World Congress on Information Technology that WITSA organises every two years. South Africa has participated in them since 1998, when Zeth Malele was our first delegate to Fairfax County, Virginia. We have excellent facilities for large-scale conferences and have successfully hosted the World Summit on Sustainable Development as well as several of the World Cup sporting events. In 2010, we will be the home of the World Cup of Football and it is no coincidence that the 2010 World Congress will be held in the region that includes Africa. Be sure that our interest in bidding to be the hosts is a serious one. By the time you leave, we are sure you will be convinced that we can do it!

The dti is delighted to support this meeting and we thank WITSA and its members for coming to South Africa for their deliberations. We offer you a warm welcome and wish you well in your discussions. Enjoy your stay with us and return soon.

Next up, the Minister for Communications:

MINISTER IVY MATSEPE-CASABURRI’S SPEECH AT WITSA DINNER, SANDTON CONVENTION CENTRE, SEPTEMBER 29, 2004

Welcome to international delegates from over 30 countries, attending the first World Information Technology & Services Alliance (WITSA) meeting to be held in Africa. We hope that we have lived up to and beyond your expectations in providing a unique experience of life in our country – from the delights of our national park to the history of our famous township. We are also pleased to be able to show off a little of our facilities in this Convention Centre and its surrounding business, shopping and leisure environment.

We are encouraged to hear of the formation of the African Federation of ICT Associations (AFICTA) and look forward to interacting with it and its members. Our regional activities can only benefit from a more coordinated voice of the industry. With NEPAD and the e-Africa initiatives taking shape, this coordination will help us towards more effective implementation.

Effective dialogue between industry and government is essential to the development of enabling regulation and to harnessing the resources required in providing affordable access to ICTs for all our people.

We hope that you have enjoyed your visit and look forward to welcoming you again soon. We have endeavoured to show you just a little of South Africa’s capacity to host a World Congress on Information Technology in our excellent conference facilities and hotels, with the supporting infrastructure to offer exciting tourism and shopping opportunities. We will be supporting the bid to host the 2010 World Congress and hope that you will, too.

And finally, the press release:

AFRICAN FEDERATION OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATIONS (AFICTA) ESTABLISHED

Savant Steering committee member and President of Information Industry South Africa (IISA), Adrian Schofield, has been elected convenor of the African Federation of Information and Communications Technology Associations (AFICTA) Steering Committee.

Delegates at the recent WITSA meeting agreed to establish AFICTA, with South Africa as the initial host country. The Steering Committee includes representatives of national ICT associations from Tunisia, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa. This committee has three months to prepare a budget, structure, constitution and detailed objectives for AFICTA.

Commenting on the establishment of AFICTA, Adrian said, ‘We have learned from the experience of the Asia-Pacific region that synergising the resources of national associations brings benefits for all the members and supports the growth of the ICT sector in ways relevant to the needs of the region. AFICTA will build on the network of African associations brought together by WITSA.’

AFICTA will be an alliance of African ICT industry associations, committed to the development of information and communications technologies in Africa. Among its objectives will be advocacy with African governments and regional organisations, representing African ICT issues in international fora, promoting information and communications technologies into African economies and governments and support for ICT research and development in Africa.

AFICTA will be associated with WITSA, a global grouping of 65 national ICT industry associations. The decision to establish AFICTA was taken at WITSA’s recent Public Policy and Steering Committee meetings, held in South Africa.

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Against that background, it is disappointing to note the tone of the next piece:

ICT Sector Summit Steering Committee
Comment on the process for 2005 from Business

We have to ask ourselves if the ICT Sector Summit process as implemented in 2004 has been successful. Whilst the NEDLAC environment is conducive to negotiation of issues between the parties to reach consensus, it does not appear to be suited to the implementation of agreements reached.

The inherent problem is the basic structure of the ICT sector. There is no single (or even dual) employer body that dominates, nor is there broad union membership among the workforce. The willingness of individuals to give up their own or their company’s time to this process has diminished in relation to the time since the ICT Sector Summit was launched. In spite of the expected focus of the sector arising from the Summit and from other activities such as the Charter, the SAVANT initiative – even the SAITIS project – there has been no real consolidation of the ICT sector. It continues to be made up of several industry associations (which, in total, do not represent a significant number of enterprises, although they may cover about 50% of the turnover) which see little reason to cooperate with each other. Government also has several departments involved in the sector, again with little coordination.

This fragmentation dilutes the resources (people, funds, energy and time) that should be harnessed to address sectoral issues. Instead, small groups of people, largely un(der)funded, work in silos on narrow issues and achieve little for the greater good. The bottom line is that, although a broad spectrum within the constituencies has an interest in the sector’s future, no-one really has a mandate to act on behalf of a significant proportion of the constituents. There is a vicious circle – the Sector Summit process (in the ICT sector) has no resources, which means it does not have the attention of senior executives across the sector, which means that no resources are allocated to its activities.

In addition, many of the objectives of the Summit are being pursued by other initiatives – sometimes in different directions. For example, the BEE Charter process demanded the time and resources of many of the people who were or could be involved here. Another example is the SAVANT initiative at the dti, which is intended to promote the growth of the sector, thereby creating jobs. Many see this Summit activity as a duplication of effort, carrying less importance.

Every endeavour needs a driver. Frankly, there is none for the ICT Sector Summit. Rather than review all the thoughts we have about how to correct that situation, I would refer the Steering Committee to the as yet unpublished report from ForgeAhead that proposes the formation of the National ICT Council. That proposal will (if implemented) address the problems experienced in 2004 and provide a professional environment in which to take forward the Sector Summit Agreement.

Adrian Schofield: April 13, 2005