The Effects of Digital Exclusion and Illiteracy on Public Services for Sustainable Development in South Africa

Description

Page: 538-545

Eric Blanco Niyitunga (School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, University of Johannesburg, South Africa)

This paper assessed the effects of digital exclusion and illiteracy on delivering sustainable public services and hindering the achievement of sustainable development in South Africa. The nexus between sustainable public services and sustainable development was explained. Sustainable public services were found to promote social security. They were found to reduce and alleviate human insecurities which prevents the achievement of sustainable development. Social security was found to free people from fear or wants and enable them to achieve economic freedom that promotes economic performance. Economic performance on its own was found to lead to economic growth and development thus assuring the possibility of achieving sustainable development. The paper found that in South Africa digital exclusion and illiteracy are rampant, and have prevented the ability to deliver sustainable public services. The paper found that numerous municipal officials are ICTs and digital devices illiterate and, therefore, would not embrace the use of such digital devices in their local municipalities. The paper also found that there is unequal access to digital devices in South African society. People living in urban areas were found to have more access to digital devices and internet connections than rural dwellers. The paper recommended that the government needs to establish robust internet and ICT infrastructure in rural areas, and needs to promote the delivery of quality education so that centres for ICT trainings can be open in each municipality. The paper adopted a qualitative methodology and relied on data collected from the literature review.