The objects of this Act are to enable and facilitate electronic communications and transactions in the public interest, and for that purpose to—
| (a) | recognise the importance of the information economy for the economic and social prosperity of the Republic; |
| (c) | promote the understanding and, acceptance of and growth in the number of electronic transactions in the Republic; |
| (d) | remove and prevent barriers to electronic communications and transactions in the Republic; |
| (e) | promote legal certainty and confidence in respect of electronic communications and transactions; |
| (f) | promote technology neutrality in the application of legislation to electronic communications and transactions; |
| (g) | promote e-government services and electronic communications and transactions with public and private bodies, institutions and citizens; |
| (h) | ensure that electronic transactions in the Republic conform to the highest international standards; |
| (i) | encourage investment and innovation in respect of electronic transactions in the Republic; |
| (j) | develop a safe, secure and effective environment for the consumer, business and the Government to conduct and use electronic transactions; |
| (k) | promote the development of electronic transactions services which are responsive to the needs of users and consumers; |
| (l) | ensure that, in relation to the provision of electronic transactions services, the special needs of particular communities and, areas and the disabled are duly taken into account; |
| (m) | ensure compliance with accepted International technical standards in the provision and development of electronic communications and transactions; |
| (n) | promote the stability of electronic transactions in the Republic; |
| (o) | promote the development of human resources in the electronic transactions environment; |
| (p) | promote SMMEs within the electronic transactions environment; |
| (q) | ensure efficient use and management of the .za domain name space; and |
| (r) | ensure that the national interest of the Republic is not compromised through the use of electronic communications. |
