The ANC says it wants to bridge the digital divide in South Africa. That’s according to a recommendation that came out of the party’s communication committee discussion document Thursday night. ANC communication committee member, Jessie Duarte, says a lot of South Africans don’t have access to internet, postal service and they want to change this. “Every South African should have an address. We also want to move to an era where South African houses have an email address,” adds Duarte. Duarte also says more skills were needed in the ICT sector. The sector is experiencing a shortage of people to employ. On the move from analogue to digital, another committee member, Jackson Mthembu, says they will be pushing for more regional radio stations so that people can have access to them in their own languages. The committee also touched on the SABC, saying that the funding model needs to change so the public broadcaster can reach more communities in South Africa and also that more SA content be played on air. The ANC also says that they will advertising in small community papers to ensure that small communities have access to government’s position, according to Pallo Jordan, one of the drafters of the documents. Duarte also says that they want the media to be considerate of the needs of disabled people. “Print media should consider braile paper,” suggested Duarte. The ANC also says it plans to go on an intensive dialogue programme in a bid to assert the party’s role. Duarte says they will go on an intensive social media campaign in a bid to capture young people. “That’s where the youth are interacting. We want to use and maximize our presence in those places.” The communication document will be taken to the ANC elective conference in Mangaung, Free State where it will be adopted.
– By Palesa Kobedi
