The digital divide was also a subject of discussion at the Ministerial Oversight Committee and the Commonwealth meetings in Cape Town earlier this year.

The main task of these committees is to address the issue of the digital divide between the developed and developing nations. At another level, the International Presidential Commission consisting of Presidents Mbeki, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria has also identified the bridging of the digital divide as one of the focal points for ending the marginalisation and under-development of Africa.

Matsepe-Casaburri says it is the government's conviction that every region, every province, every community and every citizen, whether urban or rural, has to reap the benefits of access to the networked economy.

The establishment of telecentres in some parts of the country is seen as one way of addressing the digital divide problem. These centres will offer 24-hour access to telephones with a voice mail service, facsimile and electronic mail services provided at the telecentre. They will also provide computer services like word processing, spreadsheets and business and personal planning.

A good beginning in this field has already been made and in Winterveldt, north of Pretoria, many residents have got certificates after completing basic computer training at the Good Sheperd Telecentre run by the local Catholic Church.

The telecentres are being complemented by the provision of Internet laboratories, one of which has been established at Comtech High School in Mangaung's Freedom Square Informal Settlement, providing a service to learners from this area and providing neighbouring communities with access to the Internet and e-mail. Another way of trying to close the digital gap has been the establishment of 'Cyber Labs', which are also equipped with computers and a server, with basic software packages like word processing and spreadsheets.

The private sector too has responded positively to the challenge of empowering formerly disadvantaged South Africans. For instance, in May this year, IBM South Africa rolled out a programme aimed at familiarising underprivileged pre-school children with technology. The programme, called KidSmart, consists of colourful, child-sized plastic furniture that is durable and easy to clean and incorporates a powerful IBM computer, a 14-inch colour monitor, speakers and a membrane keyboard.

The computer is loaded with award-winning software designed by education specialists to develop activity and problem-solving skills and engage young children in the learning process with maximum fun. The programme also includes training for teachers to familiarise them with computers where necessary and enable them to integrate KidSmart into their own syllabus.

IBM corporate social responsibility manager Alf Mandewo says 50 centres around South Africa will receive KidSmart, with a focus on the disadvantaged communities. "By making education and technology available to the underprivileged, we geometrically increase their chances of well-paid, productive employment," he says.

The company has also launched Wisebus, a mobile education centre, in Kimberley in Northern Cape and in Attridgeville in the Gauteng Province. The Kimberley Wisebus is taking the world of computers and the information superhighway to the doors of more than 1,000 pupils in Galeshewe's five previously disadvantaged schools.

Also known as the mobile education centre, the bus is fully equipped with networked personal computers featuring interactive CD-Rom technology and the ability to run powerful software applications to train children from previously disadvantaged schools. In April this year, IBM donated computer equipment valued at Rand 90,000 (1USD = approximately 8 Rand) to the South African Blind Workers Association.

The Soweto Digital Village, established in March 1997 and commissioned by Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, is another example of what providing technological and much-needed training in computers to disadvantaged communities of Soweto can do. Over the years, these communities have benefited from advances in information technology, used as a vehicle for skill development, job creation, information access, improved communications and collaboration.

The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including computers, Internet access and the latest Microsoft software and books. It also provides the surrounding communities, schools, students and local entrepreneurs with the opportunity to develop their computer skills, access to information and communication technology as well as taking advantage of the power of the Internet.

"The Soweto Digital Village has become the hub of information and communication technology where the community has access and exposure to these technologies which were a mere dream a few years ago," says Joe Mphahlele, the manager of the centre.

In June this year, Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa launched an Internet initiative that will give free Internet access and an e-mail address to 1.5 million students in 24,000 schools in the province over the next three years. According to Shilowa the project arose out of a need to ensure that Gauteng's youth do not lack access to technological advancements and education methods. "By ensuring that our learners are computer literate, we will be able to provide the economy with a pool of trained candidates," he says. Gauteng Online will be installed in 25 pilot site schools this year. Each school will be provided with 25 computers.

But even though these steps seem encouraging there are many voices of protest, pointing out that these measures are not actually helping in reducing the digital divide. For instance, in many parts of the country, especially in far-flung rural districts, villagers remain in the dark when it comes to technological developments. According to a journalist from Dordrecht, a tiny town in the poverty-stricken Eastern Cape Province, despite the fact that there are telecommunications infrastructure for telephones and cellphones there is no provision for telecentres where villagers will have access to Internet or e.mails. In Taung, in the North West province, workers at various institutions say they have outdated computers, and are therefore unable to use services such as the Internet and e-mail.

And it is this crucial issue which will first have to be addressed, if the country has to make relevant and useful technological advances.

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