The Role of Information Communication Technology in Improving Community Participation in Municipal Process in Rural Areas

Abstract

Around the world, especially in democratic states, governments, both
national and local, are major players in improving people's livelihoods,
especially in areas where all indicators depict a bad service delivery image.
Over the years, communication has been a major player in improving
people’s livelihoods in subaltern communities. In South Africa, most studies
have focused on the role of traditional communication in improving
community participation in rural areas, while few have focused on
information and communication technologies in semi-urban areas,
necessitating investigating Information communication technology (ICT) use
on community participation in rural areas. This study aims to explore the
information communication technologies used in facilitating community
participation in local government, especially in rural areas. To get deeper
insights into how the internet, cell phones, and social media usher in the
involvement of the community in municipal processes, the study adopted a
qualitative content analysis methodology to interrogate and examine various
data sources like academic articles, case studies, government reports, and ICT
project evaluations, allowing the researcher to identify words, themes, and
patterns for data analysis. The researcher further employed textual analysis as
it facilitated the analysis of secondary data and offered a systematic
framework for data interpretation. The study used technological determinism
as a framework. The findings of this study show that, although ICTs may aid
communities in effective participation in municipal processes, the digital
divide and illiteracy remain challenges that may hinder the use of ICTs for
effective participation since most rural communities live in poverty. To
address the latter while necessitating the former, this study recommends that
municipalities and community organisations conduct technological needs
assessments to understand their communities' particular requirements,
prospects, and challenges and ultimately make digital infrastructure and
resources available to rural communities.