China’s Controversial Technology Partnership with South Africa

The Chinese and South Africa governments have signed a pact, or a “plan of action,” where Beijing will provide a broad array of technology training, skills transfer, and ICT (information and communications technology) development for South Africa’s emerging technology sector. The agreement also includes provisions for cyber security consulting, implementation of so-called “egovernment” initiatives, and rural technology development.

Sinica Podcast

08.31.12

The Huawei Enigma

Kaiser Kuo, Jeremy Goldkorn & more from Sinica Podcast

Is there any other company that better captures the dual way China is perceived internationally than Huawei? As one of China’s few market-based telecommunications equipment providers, the company is in many ways a symbol of China’s high-tech, global...

As the world’s largest ICT market, China is well-placed to assist South Africa with its technology development. After all, it was less than 25 years ago when just one out of 100 Chinese residents had a phone line and today the P.R.C. is the world’s largest telecom, Internet, and personal computer market.

Nonetheless, China is also home to one of the world’s most restrictive Internet environments where the government exerts strict control over what sites can be accessed and what can be said online. Beijing’s repressive Internet governance policies are prompting some opposition politicians in South Africa to loudly protest against the government’s new ICT partnership with China.

Recommendations

• “Here Are the Details of SA’s ICT Deal with China,” Charlie Fripp, htxt.africa, June 11, 2015
• “SA Unlikely to Be ‘Cyber-Colonised’,” Dineo Faku, Independent Online, June 12, 2015