Which SA party will look after ICT's best?

[Muthi]

Considering the need to improve South Africa's ICT sector - specifically to improve broadband speeds and decrease costs, to implement improved policies, sort out spectrum issues etc etc, how much do you know about what our political parties are proposing in this field? What are some of the activities being proposed for the ICT sector by SA's different political parties - and are they realistic? Are these points available in manifesto's anywhere online?
This is purely for interest purposes...

 

[stricken]

The DA. They have an extensive broadband policy and busy implementing it the WC. Part of this includes free WiFi and certain locations around the Cape.

 

[keill]

Probably slightly deviating, "slightly"

I've worked at some head offices of the current government offices on IT related projects.

When brilliant solutions and creative idea's are sought(and that is what is needed to plan a countries ICT solutions), companies feed minds with everything they've got: amazing and advanced working environments, great remuneration packages, surrounded by people who live and breathe IT, who inspire and challenge convention.

What we've got:
Granted this is a 3rd world country and we're working on it, but the government offices where we're required to plan and implement the countries IT/ITC infrastructure - are 50yr old filthy dungeons with broken aircons and politicians photo's on the wall of every room who don't inspire us.
We're forced to use ancient secretary-specced laptops (to develop software that handles national volumes), use internet to research best-of-breed technologies but the internet is restricted to the speed of a 56k modem and limited to news24 and banking. Salaries of the permanently employed are not worthy of anyone with a higher education. Managers are 50yr olds who hang on to their jobs and run with the first solution that is offered by any company that says "yes we can do it, (for an additional cost)" They don't know how to spec requirements nor measure the performance of solutions/vendors/implementations. Resultantly they can't hold them accountable for non-delivery.

When u ask the question of this thread - I can't help but ask, how are best practices/plans ever going to make it into online manifesto's/get implemented.

Despite this, there is progress. Its just really slow, and littered with wasteful expenditure that doesn't benefit the tax payer. There are people who are working hard to make improvements for the country, they're just too far in-between and have to fight every step of the way and work with people who are happy to have a job, and not actually perform. I expect this to occur with most parties, it occurs in the private sector as well.

Wait, what was the question again?

 

[Paul Hjul]

I'd obviously state the Libertarian Party of South Africa
Apart from the obvious benefits of free market centralism for ICT development
In their corner of course also is some really sharp pushers for ICT growth and development

 

[Muthi]

So Keill, is there anyone speaking about changing the status quo that you've outlined in your "What we've got" paragraph? If what you suggest is the reality, surely leadership of those departments would fight for better conditions/resources/skills - the tools they need to deliver on their mandates as directors/chief directors/HOD's... Because if they are not delivering, Ministers take heat and lose their positions. What are our political parties offering apart from free Wifi (which is likely to be dead slow, limited in reach) - there are many more pressing issues at hand. Surely ICT's should be a priority in the year 2014 AD, especially considering SA's slide down related world rankings in recent years.

One might then also ask, what are the most pressing issues that need attention? To roll out fibre everywhere at massive costs (and opportunity cost against health, education etc), to improve access to devices (because the network alone is not enough), to free up spectrum to improve connectivity?

Paul, I had never heard of the Libertarian Party of SA so at least this thread has helped in one way! Who are their sharp pushers?

 

[Paul Hjul]

sorry I forgot to put in the disclaimer
I am the current Chairman of the Libertarian Party
so the "" is self-referential

advert for the party will be appearing in newspaper near you soon

the biggest issue pressing on ICT is to move away from a culture of regulatory arbitrage and to get everybody to be playing by the rules they've agreed to rather than trying to rewrite rules to suit them.