The Government Communications and Information System (GCIS) welcomes the agreement reached between Telkom and the Competition Commission, which will, among other things, reduce the digital divide in the country by providing unrated access to essential online public services.
Telkom’s offering includes free public access to www.gov.za managed by GCIS – the gateway to government information and services
Telkom also offers free access to educational institutions, including primary websites from more than six universities and further education and training institutions, as well as knowledge-enhancing sites such as Wikipedia, Everything Science, Everything Maths, and the Basic Education Cloud Department.
Telkom and the Competition Commission announced on Wednesday an agreement outlining Telkom’s contribution to improved competition in the provision of fixed broadband access by operators in this sector
Presidency minister Jackson Mthembu, who heads the GCIS, said Telkom’s initiative will provide citizens with information they can use to build a better life for themselves and their communities.
“In line with our country’s biggest challenge – that of youth unemployment – www.gov.za is mainly used by young people looking for work and for information on opportunities and services that can improve their employability or qualifications,” said Mthembu #
He said that the zero rating of the www.gov.za website will be a great relief to the many South Africans who need information about the government’s constantly evolving and growing opportunities for citizen self-reliance.
In the past 12 months alone, more than 12 million users have visited the website, as well as government news sites, www.sanews.gov.za and www.vukuzenzele.gov.za to access information on a range of services and programs that are vital to the development of our country.
“As a leading brand in the South African economy, Telkom’s contribution to access to information is also an important contribution to the growing partnership between the government and the private sector to grow South Africa together,” said the minister.
(With input from the South African government’s press release)
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