Western Cape Broadband Programme  

The Western Cape Broadband Initiative is regarded as a true game changer project for the province. The project embarked on many leading and innovative approaches and initiatives and is now being replicated in other provinces. African Ideas has played a key role in this project from the beginning. African Ideas was appointed as Strategy and Readiness Advisors to assist and guide the Western Cape Government (WCG) with respect to the broadband initiative.  

 In this project, African Ideas produced the Western Cape Broadband Strategic Framework, which was presented to the Provincial Cabinet and approved. We then produced the business case for the WC Broadband, which was also approved. We then created the tender for the Provincial Wide Area Network (PWAN), in conjunction with a variety of stakeholders, created the scoring model, and helped manage the adjudication of the tender. We assisted the Department in procuring the Transaction Advisors for the PPP process, procuring a service provider to develop a skills intelligence platform, etc. 

 As part of this project, assistance and support was provided to various Western Cape municipalities. Significant assistance was also provided to the Western Cape DLG with the State of ICT in Municipalities survey and subsequent report that was referenced in the terms of reference for the current scope of work. A connected municipalities roadmap (strategic framework) was also developed. Significant support was also provided to the Western Cape Department of Education in the creation of the e-Education roadmap and the subsequent rollout of the schools LAN and WAN project.  

Therefore as a result of this project, African Ideas has a fairly detailed knowledge and awareness of the ICT infrastructure, services and locations across the Western Cape. 

Complexity of project: High – Multiple services to be procured, multiple service providers to be managed and integrated, large number of internal and external stakeholders.  

Stakeholders and involvement: Multiple governmental stakeholders (provincial, local, national, parastatal) as well as external stakeholders (users and service providers).  

Reference: Jo-Ann Johnston, Email: Jo-Ann.Johnston@westerncape.gov.za Tel: (021) 483-3522