Vodacom partners with KwaZulu-Natal government for ICT summit

DURBAN – Vodacom, in partnership with the Office of the Premier for KwaZulu-Natal, is hosting an information, communication and technology (ICT) summit to drive digital transformation in the region. The event, which is being held at the ICC in Durban from 9-10 November 2023, provides a unique platform for ICT and government leaders to explore cutting-edge technology solutions designed to transform the business landscape.

"We are excited to continue our established partnership with government to support its digital transformation strategy, which enables economic development and social upliftment in the country. This summit is an exciting opportunity to showcase the power of digital technology in addressing the needs of the KwaZulu-Natal public sector and improving the lives of the province's citizens," says Imran Khan, Managing Executive of Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Region.

The ICT Summit brings together digital experts, stakeholders and representatives from the KwaZulu-Natal public sector to discuss and demonstrate the role of technology in improving operations, processes and service delivery for the benefit of communities in KwaZulu-Natal. This includes highlighting smart solutions in transversal products, cloud and hosting, the Internet of Things (IoT) and cybersecurity. The summit will also feature an exhibition of Vodacom industry partners, such as Samsung, Huawei, Honor, EOL, IoT. Nxt, Mezzanine, Xcallibre and CELCOM.

Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said: "This Smart & Connected  Province ICT Summit with Vodacom, presents an opportunity for collaboration between government and the private sector in a mutually beneficial way, sharing platforms, resources in government and with the whole of society. Nowhere else is it more urgent to work closely with multiple stakeholders to redefine our response to the varied societal challenges of our time. Our Digital Transformation Strategy seeks to advance Government-to-Government, Government-to-Citizen and Government-to-Business Interaction. With about 27% of the KZN population connected, we have identified the need to accelerate the connectivity of the entire province. The broadband connectivity of the province can be realised with the participation of Information and Communication Technology investors and partners.  We are also driven by ensuring that the access to technologies is achieved in an affordable and inclusive manner. In October the province launched the 4IR Commission, a multi stakeholder forum charged with advancing the public sector in into the Fourth Industrial Revolution and beyond. KwaZulu-Natal is intent to become a smart province."

The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) developed the National e-Government Strategy and Roadmap in 2017, which aims to guide the digital transformation of the public service in South Africa, improve efficiencies and contribute to the National Development Plan.
Vodacom Business has been working with the government on a number of connectivity solutions to help achieve these goals.

For example, SmartCitizen, launched in 2018, is an interactive mobile solution that allows the public to engage with municipalities on challenges related to service delivery in their communities, from water to sanitation. In healthcare, the Mpilo app, developed by Vodacom Business in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Health, enables users to report issues that could impact the quality of public healthcare service, from safety issues and facility cleanliness to staff care and waiting times. Vodacom Business solutions have also been a critical driver of government's goal to digitalise the education sector at every level, from streamlining administration to advancing access to quality learning. "A key objective of the summit is to use our capabilities to build on our successful collaboration with the public sector to support the KwaZulu-Natal government's digitalisation journey. This forms part of Vodacom's commitment to bring the benefits of connectivity to all communities in the region and enable a digitally inclusive future," concludes Khan.