The document discusses using web and mobile technologies to improve public participation in government in South Africa. It finds that while the country has made significant technology investments, public participation remains poor. Experts were interviewed and said participation only works for the rich/influential currently. The document suggests technologies like SMS, mobile sites, and online deliberation could help if designed locally and culturally connected. It presents models and scenarios for e-participation and identifies critical success factors like leadership, managing social capital, and focusing on access for all.

1. Listening to the ground: web and mobile technology options for public participation in government 2010 ZAWWW International conference University of Kwazulu-Natal (UKZN) Laban Bagui and Andrew Bytheway

6. Listening to the ground: web and mobile technology options for public participation in government Mbombela stadium: 7km outside of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga

7. Key elements using ICTs in Public Participation in Government Listening to the ground: web and mobile technology options for public participation in government

11. Expert Opinion Listening to the ground: web and mobile technology options for public participation in government Expert opinion on e-participation in South Africa, from an external point of view Expert1 Expert2 Expert3 Expert4 Public Participation happens only for those who have means (Rich and influential) To make the people heard in high spheres parliament has to have space for people to participate in debates. Issues of participation for poor Local government do not listen to people Make people heard, which means to have his/her preferences recognised and influence policy and budget People are not heard Protests and demonstrations are the only means they have to get heard Political parties are heard in parliament Forms of active citizenship Critical citizenship Service delivery is certainly one of the main issues Issues of dissatisfaction and complaints Service delivery protests Service delivery protest truly for recognition and to show their frustration There is an issue accessing information on government channels Information access issues Not all departments use technology People need to earn the right to speak to others Problem of elitism Civil society needs to be rooted in the ground Access to the judiciary is difficult The systems should be built by the private sector Leaders should be educated in the use of ICT Need for cultural and electoral reform Local areas Internet and mobile technology (web, mobisite, sms, users opinion tracking on fora, banners, adds on sites) Cellphones, sms are key Library campaigns Mobile for protests Mobile participation Sms comments on topic Online deliberation People should deliberate online Technology can help in context where people have power

13. Gartner E-government hype cycle evolution Listening to the ground: web and mobile technology options for public participation in government Source: Gartner research, 2004

16. E-Participation quality Model S Listening to the ground: web and mobile technology options for public participation in government X South Africa Denmark, Netherland, Norway X X Sub-saharian African countries

19. Laban Bagui [email_address] Andrew Bytheway [email_address] Faculty of Informatics and Design Cape Peninsula University of Technology Cape Town South Africa Me Ti Be Ma Yega/ Merci / Thank you/ Danke Shön / Dankie / Ngosi Questions?