The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies exists to enable South Africa’s digital transformation. This the Department does by the enactment of laws and the drafting of policies that seek to achieve digital inclusion and economic growth, and that create an enabling policy and regulatory environment.
One of the key instruments that enables the DCDT to carry out its mandate is the 2016 National Integrated Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Policy White Paper, which provides for the participation of multiple stakeholders for inclusive digital transformation. The White Policy White Paper also:
- Allows for interventions to reinforce competition and facilitate innovation across the value chain; measures to address issues raised by ICT and convergence; and
- also provides for policies to address the digital divide and affordable access, supply side issues and infrastructure rollout, and demand side issues to facilitate inclusivity.
The DCDT is focussed on a few priority outcomes that are focussed at addressing the challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment. These are:
- Enabling Digital Transformation Policies, Strategies and Regulation
- Increased access to secure Digital Infrastructure and Services
- Digitally Transformed Economy and Society and
- High Performing and sustainable portfolio to enable achievement of their respective mandates and policy objectives.
HOW THE DCDT IS ORGANISED
The DCDT is organised around six programmes: