In Africa, there is a growing embrace of digitally smart local government based on the integration and harnessing of digital technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and generative AI tools to enhance the functioning of local government. This book advances the idea that this development is pregnant with the promise that the use of new digital technologies will enhance service delivery, grow local economic development, improve the effciency in local government, ease local government interface with citizens, and enable the flow of information and data for wiser decision making. This may have a positive bearing of the quality of life of people on the ground. Be smart local governments must overcome various challenges including the digital divide, digital exclusion, infrastructure limitations, access to digital devices, and digital literacy in government and among residents. Digitalisation may also not overcome long-standing structural deficits that have always constrained service delivery and local developmemt. The book made up of select papers from 2024 SAAPAM Conference should be helpful for practitioners, researchers and activists alike.
The book contributes immensely to our understanding of how e-participation, e-governance and digital technologies can enhance democratic local government. ~Prof Godfrey, Sol Plaatje university
This is a highly anticipated book that explores the tranformative impact of smart governance and digital technologies in the development of smart local government, with a strong focus on transparency, accountability and active citizens engagement. ~Dr Stanley Maphosa, International Science Scholar