Benjamin P. (2001) Telecentres in South Africa, in Journal of Development Communication: Special Issue on Telecenters 12[2]

online at http://ip.cals.cornell.edu/commdev/documents/jdc-benjamin.doc

The article describes the experience of the Universal Service Agency (USA) in South Africa in setting up telecentre in the country starting from 1997.

By the end of 2000 USA established 65 telecentres in rural South Africa.  Two kinds of telecentres were funded: 11 mini-telecentres and 54 full-telecentres.

Mini-telecentre: costs around US$1,500, half paid by an entrepreneur and was run as a private small business.  The equipment consisted of one moveable cabinet with a pentium computer and a 3-in-1 (printer, copier and scanner).  Two Vodacom ‘Zigi’ phones provided telephony.  The mini was placed in whatever building the owner preferred.

Full telecentre: cost between US$ 15 – 25,000.  Owned by community organizations or by government institutions such as schools, post offices or Information Points. The USA telecentres are expected to provide a community service, as well as being successful small businesses.

The operating status of the 65 USA Telecentres in 2001 was the following: 47% were working both with telephone and computers, 3% were working with telephones; 18% were working but without telephones; 32% were not operating.

Reasons for the not operational condition of a third of the telecentres are listed in the article: burglary/theft, technical problems, managerial weakness, financial problems, community conflict, catastrophic fire, repossessed.

The author uses three indicators to assess sustainability: whether the telecentres paid a salary to the managers, whether the telecentre produces a profit monthly and whether the telecentre managers and/or the USA field workers feel the centre has been successful

The article goes on underlining some success factors: good management (personal features of the manager), developing new services (addressing community needs), external linkages and networking.

The author ends addressing a drawback of the USA telecentre initiative until 2001: the focus of the projects was on the technology more than the development services.