The perceived societal impact of the fourth industrial revolution in South Africa

Abstract

Societal impact reflects the changes that transform the society which affect the well-being of individuals and their families. This study aimed to understand the perceived societal impact of the fourth industrial revolution in South Africa. The investigation used an exploratory mixed research method, with six experts in round table discussion (focus group) and a survey questionnaire with 1,1105 responses. The findings of the study confirm the existential relational proposition that the fourth industrial revolution has a societal impact in South Africa. It is influenced by socio-demographic (province, age) and socio-economic (education and employment) factors. The findings also revealed that the perceived highest impact of fourth industrial revolution’s will be on improved re-industrialisation (RII = 68.6 percent), increase in work mobility (RII = 68.1 percent) and improved service delivery (65.1 percent). Regarding benefits, if correctly leveraged, these new disruptive technologies create a significant opportunity to leapfrog the advancements made in the previous industrial revolutions and help develop society. However, this might widen socio-economic gaps further, especially if there is no action to change the status quo of the highly unequal society in South Africa.

Technological Advancements in African Social Work: Implications for U.S. Practice

“…This shift towards digital platforms has implications for the accessibility of social work services, particularly in reaching marginalized communities. Mtotywa et al (2022) delve into the societal impact of the fourth industrial revolution in South Africa, highlighting how technological advancements are influencing social work practices. Their findings suggest that new technologies, if leveraged correctly, have the potential to significantly improve service delivery in social work.…”

Elevating South Africa’s Entrepreneurial Activity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era

“…The relatively excessive costs of data in South Africa, when contrasted with those of other African countries (Mtotywa et al 2022), pose one of the main obstacles to advancing entrepreneurship levels. This is a critical market dynamic that needs attention because numerous entrepreneurial openings are in the digital economy (Bowmaker-Falconer and Meyer 2022; GEM 2022).…”

“…Debrah et al (2018) interprets this as a consequence of restricted public investment and a generally low acceptance of technology usage, characteristic of sub-Saharan Africa. However, Mtotywa et al (2022) make specific reference to South Africa about the lacklustre reception level of digital technology, which is a major barrier to the adoption of 4IR technologies. This is exemplified by Olaitan et al (2021) who report that South Africa has, for several reasons, not fully taken up 5G mobile digital technology, and yet this technology is vital for all-round internet connection.…”

“…High crime rates are identified by Mtotywa et al (2022) as an encumbrance to the implementation of 4IR technologies in South Africa. The country is riddled with high crime, including the theft of copper and fibre optic cables, which deals a heavy blow to the installed infrastructure by cutting the required connectivity for 4IR implementation.…”