Cyber security on SA's agenda

2008-06-17 14:14

Pretoria - Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri was attending a ministerial conference in South Korea on cyber crime and the role of the internet, her ministry said on Tuesday.

Departmental spokesperson Joe Makhafola said the minister was attending the second Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Conference. The conference started on Tuesday in Seoul.

"The ministerial conference will address the role of the internet in the 21st century as a critical infrastructure on which the world depends to support economic growth, innovation and social development, and will focus on security issues," said Makhafola.

The minister said there was a need to protect and empower consumers online.

"There is a need for building a culture of security in the face of rapid technological and socio-economic changes and illiteracy levels particularly in developing countries," said Matsepe-Casaburri.

This was in addition to the electronic communications and transactions act that provided for the appointment of cyber inspectors.

Matsepe-Casaburri will also act as an observer to the Information Computer and Communications Policy (ICCP) committee of the OECD.

South Africa is the first and only African country to be granted this status.

In her 2008 budget vote the minister said cyber security was high on the country's national agenda.

- SAPA