Pretoria - Telecommunications and Postal Services Minister Dr Siyabonga Cwele is leading a South African delegation to the 11th Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which is being held in Mexico this week.
“The Internet Governance Forum is a multiparty forum that is held under the auspices of the United Nations to discuss issues around governance of the internet and how to close the digital divide between developed and emerging countries and within countries,” the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services said on Monday.
The IGF will bring together governments, regulators, private sector, internet services providers and civil society members from throughout the world from Monday till Friday.
“South Africa’s participation is informed by the outcomes of the National IGF meeting that was held in September 2016 and the African IGF meeting that was hosted by the South African Government in partnership with the African Union in October 2016,” the department said.
As part of the visit to Mexico, Minister Cwele is scheduled to meet his Mexican counterpart, the Mexican Telecommunications regulator, Mexican telecommunications operators and the Mexican telecommunications sector industry chamber.
The meetings are aimed at sharing information and best practices in implementing Information and Communications policies in a manner that ensures socio-economic inclusion, universal access and lowering the costs of communications. – SAnews.gov.za
