“I think what people are saying is that the way the Internet is governed should not be subject to the law of one state. Because, should there be conflict, a developing country like Bangladesh would have to sue in the courts of the United States. I mean, really! Give us a break.” – South Africa Minister of Communications Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri tells TerraViva her Country will not wait for the global community to take action on ICTs
It was announced this week that a year-long study will be conducted into Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade’s proposal for a digital fund to help developing nations bridge the ICT divide. Do you think such a fund is critically important?
I’m not going to wait in South Africa for somebody to come and give us money — we just have to make do with whatever we have. But, it’s not an answer that everybody can give. It’s a very different answer from somebody who would come from Mali. Many of these countries (developing states) are countries, as one of the ministers said, whose monies have been taken, and are kept in European or American banks. And therefore, when people are emotional about that, it’s because there is a good cause. I think different countries need different kinds and levels of assistance.
Let’s talk about NEPAD (the New Partnership for Africa’s Development). The initiative has put a priority on getting the infrastructure in place that is needed to give Africans access to ICTs. Has all this talk resulted in any projects?
We have asked our own South African company to see what it can do with other countries in terms of electricity roll-out. We have asked for a study to see the viability of the Congo River and its hydro-electric capacity, because we recognise that that is going to be an important part of infrastructure roll-out. Because, you can have all the communications infrastructure you want, but it won’t really work unless you also have the energy.
We have already talked about an under-sea cable on the east coast, and people have been working together — both governments and business — in terms of the extension of the cable. You just have to say: what is it that you can do, working together as business — as governments — to bring these things together? And, international financiers or whoever wants the business, will participate where they see interest for themselves.
A lot has been said at this conference about languages that are used on the Internet, and the fact that some do not have a presence on the web. South Africa is funding a portal where all of the country’s eleven official languages can be read (http://www.sedibafountain.org.za) How did this come about?
It’s actually an initiative by young people at the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa, NEMISA. One of the difficulties with access is that it’s not just having a physical point to connect to. It is also the language of access, the content. You can go to a place, but if everything is in English — does it help you? So, a South African would find their language on the site. They would find content that is relevant for them, and their own life experience.
And for us as government, if we are to deliver services, then this site is going to be important too, so that people would know what services government offers, to whom and where. People were quite amazed at the number of hits on the site.
Looking at the other issues raised by WSIS — which do you feel are the most important? Well, issues around security of information and the networks. The issues around ICANN, I think, were very important for us.
What are your views on the debate around ICANN’s continued management of domain names?
At the moment, the Internet is governed by laws specific to one country (even) one state, in one particular country. And, it doesn’t really allow for participation of other people. Like all things which start in a particular place, it is shaped by a particular culture.
I think what people are saying is that the way the Internet is governed should not be subject to the law of one state. Because should there be conflict, a developing country like Bangladesh would have to sue in the courts of the United States. I mean, really! Give us a break