Closing the digital gap through participatory platforms at local government level

Abstract

This paper evaluates the role and impact of adopting digital participatory platforms in closing the digital gap at local government level. Digital participatory platforms are critical for increasing community engagement in decision-making processes and improving participation. The advancement of information and communication technology has prompted governments at various levels to adopt participatory platforms to complement offline community-civic engagement. These platforms allow communities to engage in decision-making processes by bridging the gap between offline and online techniques. These platforms increase transparency about government actions, policies, and decisions, promoting trust between the government and the people. In countries where digital platforms have been adopted, the digital divide and inequality were minimised, and inputs were increased. The paper uses two case studies from Cape Town and Durban to gauge the feasibility of employing digital participatory platforms. It is argued that although digital platforms are meant to close the digital divide, they are often not accessible and not utilised by communities in rural and remote areas. In the case of Durban and Cape Town, the use of these platforms is limited to reporting faults, and they lag in terms of constructive engagement. The adoption of digital platforms is more inclusive compared to traditional participatory platforms. Among the obstacles of digital platforms are privacy and security concerns, digital literacy, misinformation, and trust issues. There are no comprehensive studies that focus on the effectiveness of digital platforms adopted at the local government level. The deliberative democracy theory, network society theory, and social capital theory were adopted as theoretical frameworks.