Paper short abstract:

This paper is a reflection on an ICT citizen engagement tool used for government accountability amongst informal traders in seeking better sanitation and public health services in their workplace within one of the largest informal markets in sub-Saharan Africa.

Paper long abstract:

This South African paper provides an analytical reflection of a specific micro-level ICT initiative within the 'Empowering Street Traders through Urban Disaster Risk Management' project. Information and communication technology is emerging with services and tools to enhance citizen voice and particularly within participatory structures of government. As a result, sub-populations who are generally rendered "invisible" and underserved in developing countries may be able to put to use emerging ICT mechanisms to demand public services. This project reflects on an ICT citizen engagement tool used amongst traders who seek sanitation and public health services in their workplace within one of the largest informal markets in sub-Saharan Africa. Greater ICT availability in South Africa suggests a growing possibility for citizens to hold government accountable through engagement by mobile phone and internet. Citizen based engagement particularly of local government services can be useful initiatives to providing feedback from local communities on their public service demands. This Durban case study contributes to a paucity of literature on citizen - government engagement via ICTs amongst those in the marginalised informal economy. The study focuses on the re-imagination of the work space for informal traders and the new practices of negotiation opened up by this occupational health and ICT project. Ultimately, the project was built on the premise that ICTs can change the way we imagine citizen engagement with government.