 Thank you, Chairperson, Secretary General of the ITU, your excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, allow me on behalf of the South African delegation to join the speakers that came before us in thanking the government and the people of Argentina for the welcome and generous hospitality we've received and continue to enjoy this beautiful city. Chairperson, allow me to also take this opportunity to offer congratulations to you on your election as Chairperson of the conference. We are indeed confident that we are incapable and good hands. We also express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the efforts made by the ITU Secretary General, the Director of the ITU Telecommunications Development Bureau, and the management and staff in successfully convening this conference timeously and in advance. Ladies and gentlemen, the theme of this conference is very much aligned to our National Development Plan 2030 as well as the African Union Agenda of 2063, that of building an information society and knowledge-based economy to drive inclusive growth for all nations. We all know that ICTs and broadband in particular have the potential to transform sectors and accelerate progress thereby bringing us closer to achieving the SDGs. I am certain that over the two weeks we will identify strategies and programs to enhance the achievement of the SDGs, but also promote digital inclusion, accessibility, gender, and capacity building so that nations become more equal. As the African region, we call on the ITU and all international partners to put more resources and capacity on development of strategies and programs to ensure equitable access to internet, innovation, and development, as well as to strengthening ICT security. In South Africa, 48 percent of our citizens, which is an estimate of 22 million people, are not yet connected into the internet. Through our national government priorities, such as the Nine Point Plan, the broadband national policy, and the ICT policy, we are implementing strategies to ensure maximum socioeconomic inclusion, focusing on digital skills as well as supporting small business, youth, and women on digital entrepreneurship in order to minimize the digital divide and ensure radical economic transformation through wider active participation in the digital economy. In May this year, we also adopted the Internet for All Initiative, which seeks to address matters and barriers to universal internet access through partnerships, coordination, and collaboration between public, private, multilateral, and non-profit organizations. Honorable Cheperson, South Africa views ICTs, especially the internet, as important and integral to reducing socioeconomic inequalities. Therefore, WTDC17 is expected to provide the world with a new paradigm and alternative vision for increased infrastructure connectivity, diffusion of devices, local content, and skills development. Distinguished guests, October has been dedicated as the Cyber Security Month. The aim is to raise awareness of cybersecurity threats, promote cybersecurity among citizens and organizations, provide resources so that citizens can protect themselves online through education and sharing of good practices. As South Africa, we are happy to announce that we have a national policy and an established cybersecurity hub, which provides information and creates awareness on cybersecurity, so as to encourage South African citizens and organizations to be secure online. My dear brothers and sisters, you will recall that our world leaders entrusted the ITU to be the facilitator of the WSIS Action Line C5, Building Confidence and Security in the Use of ICTs. To ensure maximum effectiveness of this goal, we encourage you to strengthen international cooperation on the basis of a framework established within the remit of the ITU. Cheperson, South Africa remains committed to contributing to the work of this union, and in this regard, we'll be presenting her candidature for the ITU Council during the Pentecostal Conference in the UAE in 2018. We humbly seek your support in this regard. We look forward to cooperating with the ITU community in order to make this important conference a success, and these outcomes contribute to social upliftment of our countries, regions, and global community. Together, we can move the world forward. Thank you in advance.