I have advised by the Department as follows:
The key Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (PC 4IR) recommendations incorporate the following:
1) Investment in human capital;
2) The establishment of an artificial intelligence (AI) Institute;
3) The establishment of a platform for advanced manufacturing;
4) To secure and avail data to enable innovation;
5) Incentivise future industries, platforms and applications of 4IR technologies;
6) Build 4IR infrastructure such as hyperscale data centres, fibre optic network and undersea cables;
7) The review and amendment (or create) policy and legislation;
8) Establish 4IR Strategic Implementation Coordination Council.
The PC 4IR report and recommendations were gazetted on 9 April 2019. This is the same period in which South Africa, like all countries around the world, was unexpectedly hit by the COVID pandemic. This forced Government to deprioritise and redirect its resources to not just fight the pandemic, but provide relief to those deprived the opportunity to earn a living. Thus the implementation of the 4IR recommendations was also affected.
Notwithstanding these challenges, implementation progress is as follows:
- Human capacity investment: The Department published the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy in August 2020. The implementation of the strategy has been driven through convening the ICT industry and other stakeholders to focus their efforts on building a digital skills base necessary to drive digital transformation and the digital economy in South Africa.
- Building infrastructure: In recognising broadband access as critical for digital inclusion, the Department is driving the implementation of SA Connect, focusing on rural and under-served communities having broadband coverage.
- In terms of building Hyperscale Data Centres, there is recognition of the extensive capital required. Consideration is also given to in recognition skills, the costs of running such a centre and the extensive energy required amid South Africa’s electricity challenges. Currently, the option considered has been to leverage on industry infrastructure, given their expertise in running data centres and their established economies of scale. It is envisaged that South Africa will gradually acquire the capacity and resources to build its own data centres. The use of third party infrastructure takes into consideration South African data protection laws, security and sovereignty.
- Government has created digital platforms through which citizens can engage with Government processes. Although most platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom are not locally developed, they are widely used to enable public consultations on Government policies, legislation and other related matters and events. Government also has online services which are being expanded to enable greater convenience and the wider reach necessary to deliver services to the majority of citizens.
- The adoption of digital technologies is primarily driven by an enabling policy and legislation. In this regard, the Department has promulgated the Data and Cloud Policy to enable the leveraging of data for sociology-economic development. The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy is currently under development. The Department also recognises that policy and legislation do not address everything and intends to observe and study technologies as applied in different sectors to ensure that responsive policies are developed and supports building a robust, sustainable and inclusive digital economy.
- The combination of the National Data and Cloud Policy and the Protection of Personal Information Act are important interventions in the assertion of data ownership, utilisation and protection. The Justice Crime Prevention and Security Cluster is finalising the Cybersecurity Bill that will ensure a secure and reliable cyber environment in South Africa where citizens can transact and engage in economic online activities without fear.
- The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has incentive packages to encourage industrial development and growth, while the South African Revenue Services also has tax incentives for investment and employment-generating initiatives.
- Policy, regulatory and legislative interventions outlined in (5) above are part of Government’s initiatives to create a supportive regulatory environment to drive digital technology adoption, development and trading in digital products and services.
All the above are part of implementing the PC 4IR recommendations. The implementation is not only driven by the DCDT but also by industry, academia and other sectors such as mining, agriculture and tourism, among others. The DCDT is not only implementing but also scanning the digital environment to determine the need for creating enabling policies and legislation.
Authorised for submission by
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MR JUSTICE LIBAGO
ACTING DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE:
Approved/ not approved
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HON MONDLI GUNGUBELA, MP
DEPUTY MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
DATE:
Approved/ not approved
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SOLLY MALATSI
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
DATE:
