scholarly journals The potential of mobile phones for increasing public participation in local government in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Thinyane ◽  
Ingrid Siebörger ◽  
Edward Reynell
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Critical Discussion ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Current State ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Mobile Phone Usage ◽  
Ict For Development

This paper presents a critical discussion on the current use of technology and participation in local government. It discusses the rise in popularity of mobile devices, and how they have been used in ICT for development. The paper describes the results of a baseline study undertaken in a city within Makana Municipality in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, to empirically investigate how residents are currently using mobile phones and participating with local government around the area of service delivery. The findings illustrate the current state of mobile phone usage and capabilities, and the potential for using the mobile platform to increase participation in local government in South Africa. The paper also can be used to inform and guide project stakeholders on how best to implement m-participation strategies.

scholarly journals Use of Mobile Phones in Improving Livelihoods among Horticultural Farmers in Parts of Kaduna Northern Guinea Savannah Eco-zone: Empirical Study of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State

2020 ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
A. I. Sodimu
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Local Government Area ◽  
Transport Cost ◽  
Electricity Supply ◽  
Mobile Service ◽  
Horticultural Crop ◽  
Mobile Phone Usage

The study examined the use of mobile phones in improving the livelihoods of rural horticultural crop farmers in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Eighty (80) questionnaires were sampled among horticultural crop farmers who own and use mobile phones and seventy-six (76) questionnaires were retrieved. A multistage sampling technique was used in sampling the respondents. The data collected is analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The results showed that 46.05% are males and 53.95% are females, 26.32% were between 31-40 years, 55.26% were married and 52.63% had at least secondary education. Data further revealed that 52.63% have owned handsets for at least 4-6years and 56.58% obtained the sets from personal savings. Mobile phone usage improved the livelihood in reducing transport cost which was highlighted by 96.05% of the sampled farmers, reduced exploitation/low pricing by middlemen and improved income of producers (84.21%). It also enhanced interaction among rural horticultural crop farmers at different locations (92.11%). Poor network coverage (39.47%), poor power supply (19.74%) and theft/loss of handsets (10.53%) are the major constraints associated with mobile phone usage. The regression analysis showed significant relationship between age, household size, educational status and use of mobile phone (P<0.05) level of significance. Therefore, it is recommended that Federal Government should improve electricity supply to rural farm communities and provides economic incentives, such as tax deductions for imported equipment, for mobile service providers to expand their mobile service coverage in rural/horticultural production areas. Furthermore, the state and local government should improve rural electricity supply to enable rural horticultural crops farmers utilize the full potentials of mobile phones.

scholarly journals Increasing Public Participation in Local Government by Means of Mobile Phones: What do South African Youth Think?

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Paul Van Belle ◽  
Kevin Cupido
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
South African ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Mobile Service ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
The South ◽  
The World ◽  
Fixed Line

Apathy towards political participation is of concern for many countries throughout the world, and for many people political participation means no more than voting in an election. The South African Constitution makes several provisions for public participation but E-government solutions are not suited to the South African context, where fixed-line internet penetration is dramatically lower than that of mobile phones. Mobile phones cut across socio-economic barriers and have changed the way we communicate. They have been used to mobilise people in different parts of the world, more notably those who were passive politically, into action.  This research set out to investigate whether using mobile phones to increase participation in local government would be acceptable or not. A mixed-method research was conducted in Cape Town, South Africa, amongst youths between the ages of 18 and 35 who had no access to fixed-line internet from either home or work. Constructs from a modified UTAUT model and Social Capital Theory were used to determine the individual intention to use government mobile service if they were made available. It was found that there is not only great interest in using mobile phones to interact with government mobile services, but also to interact with other members of the community. The ability to report on corruption and service delivery problems was particularly welcome.

scholarly journals Impact of Mobile Phones on Integration: Case of Refugees in South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Allan Johnston ◽  
Kasky Bisimwa Bacishoga
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Integration Framework ◽  
The Social ◽  
Mobile Phone Usage ◽  
The Impact

This study used a qualitative approach in the form of interviews to investigate the impact of Mobile phones in enhancing the integration of refugees into South Africa. A social integration framework was used with particular attention to its three dimensions, namely the economic, social and cultural, and political participation. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The study found that mobile phone usage played an important role in the social integration process of refugees. Mobile phones, contribute to a number of expected outcomes of social and economic participation, but fewer of political participation.

scholarly journals An investigation into the usage of mobile phones among technical and vocational educational and training students in South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Herring Shava ◽  
Willie Chinyamurindi ◽  
Anathi Somdyala
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Instant Messaging ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
And Training

Background: Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are gaining popularity in South Africa; this includes the use of mobile phones and the Internet. Mobile phones also seem to be popular with the student cohort of the South African population, especially for communication purposes. Empirical evidence affirms the importance of mobile phones to this cohort, including the need to research further how these groups use and experience such devices.Objectives: This study seeks to provide an understanding of how mobile phone features, the motivation to use and time spent on a mobile phone influence behavioural intention to use mobile phones among a sample of technical and vocational educational and training (TVET) students in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.Method: A survey was carried out with 161 TVET students through a self-administered questionnaire completed by each respondent. Pre-testing and pilot testing of measures were conducted using a sample of final-year students using mobile phones who fit the same characteristics as the intended sample. To arrive at findings, data analysis was undertaken through the Chi-square test.Results: Descriptive results of the study reveal that the majority of mobile phones owned by TVET students were in the category of smartphones, bearing modern features that facilitate instant messaging, exchange of data and information as well as speedy access to information via the Internet.Conclusion: Inferential results of the study indicate that the more features a mobile phone has, the higher the desire to make use of the phone for communication purposes. Furthermore, motivation and time were found to play insignificant roles in influencing student utilisation of mobile phones for communication purposes.

scholarly journals Benefits of Mobile Phone Usage among Cassava Processors in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State

1970 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-96
Author(s):  
E.S. Salau ◽  
S. L. Kachiro ◽  
Y.M. Darason ◽  
J.E. Cyril
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Business Communication ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Local Government Area ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Mobile Phone Usage

This study investigated the benefits of mobile phone usage among cassava processors in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 81 cassava processors across four processing centres as respondents. Data collection was by a structured interview schedule. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and a linear regression model. The results show that the majority (80.2%) of the respondents were females; the respondents’ mean age was 37 years. All (100%) the respondents had one level of education or the other with a greater proportion (49.4%) of them having primary education. Their mean monthly income was N88, 395.06. The majority (72.8%) of them owned mobile phones which they used for business communication with customers. There was high level (M>2.0) of use of mobile phones for business communication by the respondents. The perceived benefits of mobile phone usage were reduced cost of transportation (67.9%); stability of prices of raw materials (66.7%); easy access to market information (61.7%) among others. The regression results show that only membership of social group and ownership of mobile phone had significant effects on level of use of mobile phones for business communication. The major constraints to the use of mobile phones for business communication were poor mobile network services in rural areas (63%), Lack of /unstable power supply to charge phones (48.2%) and high cost of recharge cards (47%). It was recommended that governments at all levels should provide electricity to rural communities to promote agricultural production and processing. Cassava processors in the area need to be mobilized by extension service providers (ADP and private) to form cooperative groups to enhance their businesses.Key words: Mobile Phone, Entrepreneurship Skills, Cassava Processors.

Listening to the Ground

2012 ◽  
pp. 474-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laban Bagui ◽  
Andrew Bytheway
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
Scenario Analysis ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
The Public ◽  
Government Services ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Communications Technologies

E-Government can be seen as governing through the use of information technology, and a key component of e-Government is e-Participation, the use of information and communications technologies to engage citizens more closely in government processes. Public participation is achieved by a range of means, any or all of which might benefit from the use of technology in order to reduce costs and improve effectiveness. In South Africa, the public has a generally poor opinion of government services, even though Web and mobile technologies are being used. That sentiment sometimes ensues in social tensions. In this chapter, a review of literature, opinions of informed experts, and a scenario analysis develop indications and a model for e-Participation maturing with e-readiness improving.

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