The ANC welcomes the implementation of the National ICT Research, Development and Innovation, RDI, strategy, currently being implemented by the Department of Science and Technology, which will target rural and marginalised communities.
The strategy seeks to ensure the development of high-end skills to enable, build and strengthen the innovation chain and the capacity of South Africa to perform competitive research in the field of ICT. The programme includes the Digital Doorway, which is a robust computer facility, designed to provide access to computing resources to these disadvantaged communities.
Another project from the ICT RDI implementation programme, aimed at enhancing access to ICT in rural areas, is a large scale technology demonstrator pilot project, which seeks to deploy affordable broadband connectivity infrastructure. Currently, the pilot focuses on providing broadband connectivity to schools and other government and public facilities in three municipalities, in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape, respectively.
The implementation of these projects will usher in a new era where our historically deprived communities will get the opportunity to participate in socioeconomic activities using the ICT platform. The roll out of effective ICT services will ensure that our people know what government services are available to them, equitably, irrespective of where they are in the country. I thank you. [Applause.]