The developments and innovations that have been achieved by our young democracy have revealed the uncompromising fortitude of the ANC for the betterment of its people.
The South African government led by the ANC has remained steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that this democracy, albeit young, continues to strive for the everyday South African.
This has been exemplified in the momentous innovations that South African citizens have enjoyed since the end of oppression.
In ensuring that the country remains abreast with developments around the world, the ANC government has presented key technologies such as the Smart ID, set to replace the old green barcoded ID books. An innovation designed to assist in combating identity theft, fraudulent activities related to drivers licence, social grants, financial institutions as well as insurance.
In enabling South African citizens to access this key innovation, online platforms have been prepared. This has also been achieved through the partnership with major financial institutions signifying the realisation of business in supporting the governing party’s ultimate goal of spearheading, economic and social change.
More than this we are evolving our ability to bring service delivery to more South Africans than ever before. South Africans can now access ID applications online and through their banks, new bounds of service delivery never before seen in our country.
Over 4.1-million ID cards have been issued to date, with a further 2.2-million to be issued this year.
This trend of innovation has also spilled over to other aspects of society such as education, a pivotal cog in the development of a successful country.
In realising this notion, government has taken stringent measures towards improving the quality of teaching and learning in schools throughout the country in what can be described as a highly inspiring programme to equip learners with tablets and installing IT infrastructure in public schools in order to make full use of this innovation.
It has to be acknowledged that South Africa’s education system has been for many years immersed with both obvious and more subtle divisions in order to fully appreciate the significant strides made in this regard.
During apartheid, it was the more palpable partitions enforced by the Bantu Education Act, and post-apartheid, the struggle has been to overcome the more understated divisions of private and public education.
The e-learning programme is an instrument for breaking the barriers of education delivery and has aided in the provision of world-class education to all leaners of this country, emphasising government’s continued resolve in uplifting the quality of life of all South Africans.
Accentuating this is the recent online school registration system which government has introduced and earmarked to end the tedious process of physically registering learners. This is a further indication that government continues to vest in innovation that will improve service delivery for the people of this great nation.
CDE. MALUSI GIGABA IS A MEMBER OF THE ANC NEC & MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS
