R Padayachee at SANGONET conference

7 March 2006

Deputy Minister of Communications, Mr Radhakrishna L Padayachee, has
challenged the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) sector to position itself
to effectively work with government in pursuance of the development agenda for
accelerated economic growth and eradication of grinding poverty in the
country.

The Deputy Minister issued the challenge while delivering a keynote address
yesterday at the Second Annual SANGONET conference held in Johannesburg under
the theme ‘ICTs for Civil Society’.

He urged the NGOs to focus on ensuring participation of civil society in
ensuring greater thrust in accessing of Universal Services by ordinary people
and also identify projects in which ICTs could be defined as having an enabling
role in the reduction of poverty.

Deputy Minister also appealed to delegates attending the conference to take
cognisance of the reality that “we are governed by an economy that is
representative of two sides, one side that thrives and offers opportunities,
while the other side of that economy is the one characterised by millions of
our people who are impoverished”.

Delegates were urged to join government in a patriotic alliance that is
aimed at meeting the challenges of the developmental state to ensure that by
2014 the unemployment level would be halved.

“Government realises the need for a patriotic alliance between the
privileged and the poor to ensure that the creation of appropriate conditions
that would guarantee economic growth, to ensure the creation of appropriate
condition that would guarantee economic growth, prosperity, employment creation
and the establishment of a better life for all,” he added.

The three day conference is aimed at exposing participants to a wide range
of ICT related issues that impact on the work of NGOs in Southern Africa and
the environment in which they operate.

Enquiries:
Albi Modise
Tel: (012) 427 8017
Cell: 083 490 2871
E-mail: Albi@doc.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Communications
7 March 2006