“Access to Internet has become so important that the United Nations Human Rights Commission has declared that Internet is a basic human right”, said Minister of Communications, Yunus Carrim at well-attended ICT Green Paper public hearings in Polokwane today.
“The UN Broadband Commission is also calling for broadband to be defined as a basic human need and be included as part of the Millenium Development Goals when they are reviewed at the UN next year.”
“Broadband basically refers to the transfer of huge amounts of information at high speed through the internet. We urgently need to implement “South Africa Connect”, our Broadband policy, to achieve our economic growth, development and job-creation targets.”
Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism MEC, Seaparo Sekoati, said “In Limpopo we urgently need a steady supply of qualified personnel for industry. We need to be more competitive. An important part of our strategy is to facilitate the growth of new small and medium size ICT companies, with a particular focus on youth, especially because unemployment affects them most.”
Mr Mothibi Ramusi, a member of the ICT Review Panel responsible for the Green Paper, said, “There are people who say the post office is outdated in this Internet Age. This is not true. The post office remains relevant, especially to the poor, particularly those in rural areas. But the post office has to change its role to take account of changes in the ICT sector.
