Cape Gateway, the Ce-I’s most publicly visible project, provides government information to Western Cape citizens via a web portal, a call centre and a walk-in centre in Cape Town’s Long Street.

Demand for the service has been growing strongly since its official launch in March 2004: by January 2005 the portal was receiving around 50,000 visits, the call centre around 14,000 calls and the Walk-in Centre around 500 visitors per month. The most popular queries from members of the public are about social grants and pensions; other popular services include access to the office of the consumer protector and information about car vehicle registration procedures – the volume of calls to the traffic department has dropped by 60% since Cape Gateway’s launch.

Increasingly, members of the public are contacting Cape Gateway whenever they want government information – and in most cases, they are getting it, even if departments have to create documents specially for the purpose. As public awareness and demand for information grows, so the relationship between citizens and the government is beginning to shift towards greater openness and accountability.

CAPE ACCESS

Information has no value if people can’t access it; so, to complement Cape Gateway, the Ce-I is also rolling out programmes to provide computer access and skills in rural communities. E-Community Forums have been established in six pilot communities, where ICT activists are being mobilised around existing physical and ICT infrastructure. In Oudtshoorn, Struisbaai and Bitterfontein libraries are the focal point; at George and Elim this role is filled by schools in partnership with Khanya, and a multi purpose community centre is being used at Vanrhynsdorp.

e-LITERACY

As Cape Gateway staff point out, it’s pointless and foolhardy to offer access to ICTs without also offering training so people can use facilities effectively. The Ce-I will develop a series of community training and eliteracy projects, including training modules that will be free for anyone to adapt and use for themselves.