History of ZAIGF

The Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG)

The Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) was set up by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in accordance with the mandate given to him by the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), held in Geneva, on 10 – 12 December 2003.

The WGIG comprised 40 members from governments, private sector and civil society who all participated on an equal footing and in their personal capacity, with the mandate below:

• Develop a working definition of Internet governance.
• Identify the public policy issues that are relevant to Internet governance.
• Develop a common understanding of the respective roles and responsibilities of governments, existing international organizations and other forums as well at the private sector and civil society from both developing and developed countries

Internet Governance Definition:

Internet governance (IG) - Is the development and application by Governments, the private sector and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet.

Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

The IGF was created after the second leg of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in November 2005 in Tunis. The Working Group on Internet Governance, proposed for the creation of the IGF as a platform where Internet related public policy issues can be addressed by all stakeholders on an equal footing. The IGF was designed as a multistakeholder platform and not established as a policy-development or decision-making body. Its steering committee, the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG) is composed of representatives of all stakeholder groups. But its decision-making capacity is limited to issues related to the organization of the annual IGF.

The IGF is a multistakeholder process without any decision-making power. In December 2015, the IGF was further renewed for another 10 years, at the intergovernmental review process, also known as the WSIS+10, under the United Nations General Assembly.

The South African Internet Governance Forum (ZAIGF)

The South African Internet Governance Forum (ZAIGF) is a multi stakeholder public policy forum that promote and strengthen the discussions that shape the future of the Internet ecosystem in South Africa.

The ZAIGF was officially launched in Johannesburg, September 2016. The ZAIGF is multi-stakeholder an initial led by the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) together with, ZA Domain Name Authority, Internet Service Provider Association (ISPA), ISOC- Gauteng (ISOC-GP) and the South African Communication Forum (SACF).

To read more - download The History of ZAIGF.