ICT based management initiatives : a case of Ratlou Municipality

Abstract

In the rural areas, the poor typically lack access to information vital to their livelihoods. As a consequence, urban people are benefiting from the economy based on Information Technology Communication (ICT). This research is aimed at investigating ICT practices in the rural areas of South Africa with emphasis to rural Ratlou Municipal area in North West. People in the rural areas usually lack access to information vital to their livelihoods. Technology is an "enabler" of useful data that is important towards changing the lives of collective groups of people. Empowering communities is vital not only to the community but helps in building the capability people's drive. Mutula and Mostert (2008) documented that "installing of technology in underdeveloped societies is merely a small part of what is needed to use information and communications technology for socio-economic development". "The existence of digital divides and digital exclusion has been described and debated" as said by Servon (2002). The conceptualisation of ICT in growth is also an argued issue, making it harder to correctly apply ICT to benefit the poor (Gxulwana, 2010). South Africa has progressed in moving into the electronic age despite boundaries in its policy and regulatory environment. "Mobile telecommunications networks have spread across the country; sophisticated ICT applications have been adopted by businesses and government; and the Internet provides a foundation for information flows and transactions in banking and financial services, universities and other scientific performing agencies, as well as in shopping and entertainment services" (Goldstuck & Abrahams, 2010).