Digital divide in a rural area of the Eastern Cape: exploring possible implications for remote workers and remote work seekers

Matiwane, Nonkululeko

Digital divide in a rural area of the Eastern Cape: exploring possible implications for remote workers and remote work seekers

Thesis / Dissertation

2026

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Knowledge and Information Stewardship

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has reshaped how people work, communicate, shop, and bank. This shift has created opportunities, including remote work, which has become a more viable choice for many, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the population to work from home. However, those living in rural South Africa, including areas like Peddie in the Eastern Cape, face barriers in ICT access, use, and opportunities gained. This study investigated the digital divide in the semi-rural town of Peddie and surrounding rural areas, with a focus on its implication for remote work. Adopting a qualitative, constructivist approach, this study used a single case study design. Nine participants (six remote workers and three remote work seekers) were selected via convenience and snowball sampling. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews, and data was analysed thematically. The findings of this study reveal how the first level of the digital divide, access to ICTs, remains a challenge in the rural area. The second level, framed in this study as digital literacy, is also a challenge, particularly for remote work seekers, despite basic access to ICTs. Finally, the third level of the digital divide, which focuses on the ability to leverage ICTs for opportunities, is more evident among remote work seekers because of access to and use of ICTs. The study recommends expanding digital infrastructure, subsidising data, providing targeted digital literacy programs for rural communities, and fostering support groups for remote workers and seekers. Future research should explore the broader impacts of the digital divide on living standards in rural areas.