Hyde Park –based platform hosts first ‘textfrence’
The text-based conference hosted by BuildRSA in Hyde Park fostered collaborative discussions and knowledge sharing among theme leaders and delegates to develop actionable solutions.
A first-of-its-kind text-based conference took place on the BuildRSA online platform. This national conference took place on July 24, and provided a platform for leaders, experts and stakeholders in different fields to present on various developmental problems facing South Africa and find innovative, sustainable solutions to resolving them together with other conference participants.
The BuildRSA chat platform was developed by Priority Performance Projects, which is part of Plus 94 Research, based in Hyde Park, the largest independent, South African and black-owned research company in the country.
Topics of discussion at the conference included problem solving in society and family life, employment and jobs, education and state-owned enterprises, business affairs, as well as economic development and exploitation of African resources. It also highlighted eliminating poverty generally and eradicating it through technology, as well as social cohesion.
South Africa’s journey towards sustainable development is hampered by numerous complex problems that need innovative solutions.
Christiaan du Plessis, the national executive director of Family Life Centre (Famsa) and Jeanne Fraser, the director of Famsa Upington, kicked off the conference with a presentation on ‘Problem Solving in Society and Family Life’. It highlighted that families serve as the building blocks of communities, fostering a sense of unity and support and providing a safe space for individuals to express their concerns and work collaboratively towards finding innovative solutions.
Dr Sifiso Falala, CEO at Plus 94 Research, presented on ‘Problem Solving in Economic Development and Exploitation of African Resources’. He highlighted that to promote growth and development, Africa should focus on diversifying its economy, invest in processing and manufacturing capabilities to extract more value from its resources, prioritise infrastructure development, put emphasis on education and skills development and prioritise good governance, transparency and anti-corruption measures.
Falala said, “The conference was a truly unique experience due to its text-based format. It was the first-ever ‘textfrence’, a term coined by BuildRSA to describe a text-based conference. It allowed for simultaneous and prolific participation, which enhanced engagement and collaboration among participants.
“The discussions were thought provoking. It was disheartening to learn that many problems are still unresolved, with a tendency to focus on symptoms rather than addressing underlying causes. This seems to be an entrenched, vicious cycle. I believe the textfrence has sparked important conversations and will serve as a catalyst for positive change.”
To view the full BuildRSA national conference discussion, visit: https://buildrsa.co.za/
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