South African Dept. of Communications to establish a digital revolution
Ms Pinky Kekana, Deputy Minister at Department of Communications
We’re living in a fast-paced world where digitalisation is at the forefront of numerous industries. Digital Transformation, loosely defined as the integration of digital technology into all areas of an organisation, fundamentally changing the organisation’s culture & business operations, is the route that any company and public institution wishing to stay relevant in the present environment must follow.
Pinky Kekana, Deputy Minister of Communications delivered a Keynote speech at the first Etion Digital Transformation Congress which took place at the Gallagher Convention Centre on Thursday, 26 July 2018 where she announced that the department is working on establishing a digital revolution.
“The department has already identified the digitisation of community media as a critical component of developing and diversifying the media sector efficiently,” she mentioned.
In August 2018, the department is set to launch an application that will assist broadcasters and content producers to distribute content across South Africa.
This locally produced app is set to develop a comprehensive programme of actions that will ensure the availability of content and support for community media to benefit from Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and digital platforms. This aids in the country’s mission to be ready for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as well as being in line with the National Development Plan.
The app will also encourage young people to be innovative in playing the space and ensure that they create jobs for themselves.
Giving further insight, the minister described how the department is working on encouraging young black Africans to interact with ICT tools as a means to encourage the progression of digital transformation, 4th Industrialisation, socio-economic change, and empowerment.
“It is a travesty of social justice that young black Africans interact with ICT tools for the first time at tertiary institutions. We need to make sure that this digital explosion we are experiencing does not make the rich richer and the poor poorer,” she added.
“In some quarters it is estimated that the global digital economy accounts for more than 5 % of the GDP in G 20 countries which are around 4 trillion USD. In the case of South Africa, the digital economy could account for 2.5 % of the GDP, “ she concluded.
Deputy Minister of Communications @Pinky_Kekana1 gives her opening address#DigitalTransformationCongress #EtionDTC pic.twitter.com/KCYidydd2i
— ITNewsAfrica.com (@ITNewsAfrica) July 26, 2018
By Neo Sesinye
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