Abstract:
The use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the different
spheres of government is being seen as a way of widening access to
government information and services in developed countries. However,
e-government development remains at a very low level in the local
sphere of government in both South Africa and in Rwanda. This article
addresses the issues of ICT use in the local sphere of government and
focuses specifically on the constraints in the successful use of ICT for
delivering and utilising online government information and services.
This article reflects upon the lessons learned from a comparative case
study undertaken in the two district municipalities of Lejweleputswa
and Fezile Dabi in South Africa and the two district municipalities
of Kicukiro and Kamonyi in Rwanda. To determine and compare the
challenges faced in the utilisation of e-government by the four selected
district municipalities both in South Africa and Rwanda, two types of
respondents have been targeted. The simple random sampling method
was used to select 400 respondents who were ordinary citizens living
in the townships, while the judgemental sampling method was used to
select 40 interviewees who are officials in district municipalities. This
article identifies a number of constraining factors surrounding practical
use of online government information and services, namely ICT illiteracy;
lack or limited access to modern ICT devices due to low income, lack
or limited access to ICT infrastructures; low level of general literacy
among citizens, English illiteracy and lack of awareness of available e-government services. To address the identified constraining factors,
policies aimed at enhancing access for all to quality education (primary,
secondary and tertiary); policies aimed at improving access for all to ICT
infrastructure and electricity; policies aimed at enhancing ICT literacy
among citizens as well as local government officials, policies aimed
at producing low-cost modern ICT devices to enable the vast majority
of citizens to have access; and policies aimed at improving GDP per
capita; are crucial.
