The Challenges of Accessing Information and Communication Technologies as Indicated by Women Entrepreneurs in Pretoria, South Africa

By Florah Sewela Modiba, Derica A Kotzé and Jan Eloff.

Published by The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Format	Price
Article: Print	$US10.00
Article: Electronic	$US5.00

Various factors such as socio-cultural conditions, geographical area and infrastructural development can inhibit access to information and communication technologies (ICTs). The aim of this paper is to report on the challenges that women in Pretoria encounter when accessing ICTs. The paper presents the results of a case study that was conducted in order to explore the challenges that women-owned Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) encounter. A qualitative research approach was followed in order to understand the challenges faced by women in the SMME sector. The findings of the study revealed that women were interested in using ICTs and that the main challenge that inhibited them from using ICTs was related to finance. Recommendations are provided to advice on how the challenges identified in the findings can be addressed.

Keywords:	Access, Challenges, Women-Owned SMMEs, ICTs, Pretoria

International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Volume 6, Issue 4, pp.119-130. Article: Print (Spiral Bound). Article: Electronic (PDF File; 785.844KB).

Florah Sewela Modiba

PHD Research Associate, Research, University of South Africa, Sunnyside, Pretoria, South Africa

PHD Research Associate; PHD student in the University of South Africa, Department of Development studies.

Derica A Kotzé

Senior Lecturer, Development Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuck, Pretoria, South Africa

Dr. Derica Kotzé is a senior lecturer at the Department of Development Studies at Unisa where she teaches at undergraduate and post graduate level. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Stellenbosch and her postgraduate qualifications at UNISA. The Doctoral thesis focused on the food paradox: an enquiry into problems regarding food security in South Africa. She specializes amongst others in food security, participatory action research, gender and development, development project management, community based development and development policy. She is also manager of the Centre for Development Studies at Unisa where non-formal programmes and workshops in the development field are offered. This empowers and capacitates development practitioners to make a positive contribution to the development of poor communities and poverty alleviation.

Jan Eloff

Research Director, Research, University of Pretoria, Faerie Glen, Pretoria, South Africa

Research Director SAP Research CEC Pretoria & SAP Meraka Unit for Technology Development and Professor Extraordinaire (Computer Science), University of Pretoria, South Africa.

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