SA ICT policies must be aligned with govt's goals, Pule

Policies must be aligned with government's top priorities of fighting crime and corruption, rural development, improving health and education, and creating sustainable jobs, The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) reports.

The policy review was necessary to overhaul legislation in the sector so that it reflected government's work and helped the country and the industry to benefit from sustainable ICT development and services for the next 20 years. "This review has to remove aspects of legislation that are irrelevant and [that] are hindering economic growth and social cohesion, while ushering in elements that are important now and those that will be significant into the future," Pule said.

The Minister emphasised that her department "was committed to finalising all legislative and Parliamentary requirements for developing policies by the end of next year and start implementing these policies in 2014." The need to address the ICT policy environment in the country has been prioritised so that it addresses existing challenges and takes the country to the year 2030. According to the GCIS, the minister said the department also wanted to ensure that it reviewed its policies in a consultative, open, transparent and progressive manner. "We are [...] fully aware of our responsibility to lead and regulate this sector," Pule said.

Read the full article on http://7thspace.com.