Free WiFi For Africa NPC, trading as Project Isizwe

NPO Registration 133-371 NPO

156 DORP STREET, STELLENBOSCH, 7600, SOUTH AFRICA

PROPOSAL FOR FREE WIFI TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION .............................................. 3

THE LEGAL AND GOVERNMENTAL PERSPECTIVE ............................................. 4

AN INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDY ON COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

THROUGH TECHNOLOGY: PARAGUAY'S POVERTY SPOTLIGHT ...................... 5

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE ADVANTAGES FOR COMMUNITY

PARTICIPATION THROUGH WIFI ............................................................................ 6

 

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INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Public participation is defined as an open, accountable process through which

individuals and groups within selected communities can exchange views and influence

decision-making. 1

Experience from elsewhere around the world suggests that improving public

participation in government can enhance good government in at least eight important

ways which are set out in the following table:

                                                                                                                                       1 National Policy Framework on Public Participation. 2007 (7).

The Benefits of Public Participation

1 Increased level of information in the Community

2 Better identification of needs for the Community

3 Improved service delivery

4 Community empowerment

5 Greater accountability

6 Better wealth distribution

7 Greater community solidarity

8 Greater tolerance of diversity

 

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In the context of public participation, a community is defined as a ward. Ward

committees consist of ten individuals plus the ward councilor who, according to the

Act, must be the chairperson of the committee.2 The responsibilities of these ward

committees include assisting the ward councilor in identifying challenges and needs of

residents; receiving queries and complaints from residents concerning municipal

service delivery, communicating these to council and providing feedback to the

community on council’s response and disseminating information in the ward

concerning municipal affairs, e.g. the budget, IDP, performance management system,

service delivery options and municipal properties.

THE LEGAL AND GOVERNMENTAL PERSPECTIVE

The Constitution of South Africa Chapter 7 section 152, clearly states the objectives of

local government. When focusing on the fifth objective, “to encourage the involvement

of communities and community organisations in the matters of local government”, it is

evident that public participation is an essential component of community development.

It is the responsibility of local government to include the public in decisions that

influence the public’s life. 3

Parliament and provincial legislatures have common mechanisms to ensure that the

public has the ability to engage in law making through education, outreach and

information dissemination; the ability to propose, comment or criticize in both written

(petitions) as well as oral (pre-hearings and hearings) form. These mechanisms

unquestionably promote Public Participation, although they also have limitations. 4

                                                                                                                                       2 The Role of Ward Committees in enhancing Participatory Local Governance and Development in South Africa. 2008 (8). 3Constitution of the Republic of South Africa No. 108. 1996. 13331(2) 4 Public Participation Framework for the South African Legislative Sector. 2013 (36).  

 

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The limitations currently experienced are due to factors such as the following:

1) People are not at home when community development workers visit them

2) People need to travel to the hearings – cost involved

3) People are not educated enough to understand legislation and sign petitions

4) People are not aware of hearings/opportunities to voice their needs and

opinions

AN INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDY ON COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY: PARAGUAY'S POVERTY SPOTLIGHT

The project started out with an NGO that created Poverty Spotlight to understand and address the household-specific constraints that keep families below the poverty line. 5 The approach uses household-level poverty assessments and action plans and delivers opportunities to access microcredit, support for microenterprise development and access to client networks.

By making use of a smart phone application, a community member would complete a

survey with indicators that address six dimensions of poverty: income and

employment, health and environment, housing and infrastructure, education and

culture, organization and participation, and “interiority and motivation,” which includes

measures such as self-esteem and entrepreneurial spirit.

With this information, the microfinance agents create a family development plan. The

goal is to have a green light and basic tasks are provided for the community members

in order to achieve the green light.

Bringing this initiative to South Africa through a program that the Government hosts on

their website, community members will be able to access the survey via the free WiFi

                                                                                                                                       5 USAID: Paraguay’s Poverty Spotlight: Focusing on Women and Markets for Innovation, Tangible Success. 2014. [Online]. Available: http://www.usaid.gov/frontiers/2014/publication/section-1-paraguays-poverty-spotlight-focusing-women-and-markets-innovation  

 

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and will be able to determine their own state of poverty and receive guidelines to the

measures they need to take in order to live a better, more sustainable life.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE ADVANTAGES FOR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION THROUGH WIFI

By introducing WiFi in the homes of the community, participation can radically be

digitalised. The community will now have access to the internet in order to educate

themselves on legislation and their rights as citizens. They will be able to download

the schedule of hearings, petitions and when community workers will be in their area

to distribute or collect information.

1. Platform for Information Sharing

By creating a WiFi-network, ward councilors will be able to communicate with one

another on a site/page/programme. Video-conferencing; feedback sheets, FAQs,

challenges and solution forums are all tools that the site/page/programme will be able

to host in order for the councilors to operate more effectively. The needs identified and

the challenges faced might be similar from ward to ward and through information

sharing, solutions and case studies can be accessed to produce a well-researched

and practical alternative.

2. E-mail address

With an e-mail address and access to the internet via free WiFi, the community

member will be able to report various issues to the municipality before, during or after

they happen. These issues can be related to anything in the community, such as

crime, domestic violence, a burst pipe or a safety concern. By using this method, the

municipality’s response rate will significantly increase and they will be able to deliver

services more effectively. The factor of preventative response will also benefit not only

the community, but the cost of the municipality.

 

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3. WiFi TV

WiFi TV is hyper-local news and entertainment created by local journalists and

uploaded to Free WiFi networks for the entire community. Young film makers from the

City of Tshwane created content that is presented on five channels, providing

information about local community happenings and giving the members of the

community a voice, because they are being educated through this method of WiFi TV.

6 The videos provide insight into the daily news, success stories of how free WiFi has

influenced community members and a question and answer session with the Mayor on

topics relevant to the community.7 Free WiFi TV enables the City of Tshwane to get

further insight into the lives of its citizens and communicate directly with them via

video without being restricted by the data costs traditionally involved in video delivery.

“We are very proud to announce that WiFi TV has enjoyed 1 million viewers in

February 2015 alone,” says Alan Knott-Craig Jr.

Figure 1: Statistics on Tshwane’s success in partnering with Project Isizwe.                                                                                                                                        6  Bizcommunity. 2015. WiFi TV sees growth in citizen journalism. [Online]. Available: http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/356/123893.html 7BizNis Africa. 2015. Project Isizwe WiFi TV hits 1 million views. [Online]. Available: http://www.biznisafrica.co.za/project-isizwe-wifi-tv-hits-1-million-views/    

TshwaneFree WiFi IN NUMBERS Dec 2013 to April 2015

14 Million + sessions logged in total

525 000 + unique users since launch

4 Million + views on WiFi TV since Nov 2014

30 000 + unique users per day logging on

80 000 +unique users on Bus WiFi

TV

 

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Project Isizwe, a Non-Profit Organisation came up with an innovative solution to offer

free WiFi as a basic service which will allow for the internet access embarked on by

the three spheres of government. Project Isizwe and its approach to facilitate the

establishment of Free Internet Zones is detailed in the accompanying information. A

partnership with Isizwe will result in increased levels of connectivity, affordable WiFi

and the envisaged outcomes of improved community participation as the fundamental

basis of developmental local government.