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7 March 2006

Deputy Minister of Communications, Mr Radhakrishna L Padayachee, has challenged the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) sector to position itself to effectively work with government in pursuance of the development agenda for accelerated economic growth and eradication of grinding poverty in the country.

The Deputy Minister issued the challenge while delivering a keynote address yesterday at the Second Annual SANGONET conference held in Johannesburg under the theme ‘ICTs for Civil Society’.

He urged the NGOs to focus on ensuring participation of civil society in ensuring greater thrust in accessing of Universal Services by ordinary people and also identify projects in which ICTs could be defined as having an enabling role in the reduction of poverty.

Deputy Minister also appealed to delegates attending the conference to take cognisance of the reality that “we are governed by an economy that is representative of two sides, one side that thrives and offers opportunities, while the other side of that economy is the one characterised by millions of our people who are impoverished”.

Delegates were urged to join government in a patriotic alliance that is aimed at meeting the challenges of the developmental state to ensure that by 2014 the unemployment level would be halved.

“Government realises the need for a patriotic alliance between the privileged and the poor to ensure that the creation of appropriate conditions that would guarantee economic growth, to ensure the creation of appropriate condition that would guarantee economic growth, prosperity, employment creation and the establishment of a better life for all,” he added.

The three day conference is aimed at exposing participants to a wide range of ICT related issues that impact on the work of NGOs in Southern Africa and the environment in which they operate.

Enquiries:
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Issued by: Department of Communications
7 March 2006