Extent of Access to Information and Communications Technology by the Rural Population of South Africa

Abstract

This paper investigates the trends in access to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in rural compared to the urban areas of South Africa. Using data from the South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) covering the period from 2003 to 2009, the study found that access to both the ‘older’ and the ‘newer’ forms of ICTs has remained significantly lower (P < 0.001) in rural areas compared to urban areas. The paper then examines these trends in the context of the Department of Science and Technology's (DST) policies and strategies on the diffusion of science and technology in South Africa.