Strategies for Bridging Digital Inclusion in Rural South Africa: A Systematic Literature Review

Digital inclusion in rural South Africa remains a significant challenge due to varying levels of access to technology infrastructure and digital literacy. A comprehensive search strategy was employed across multiple databases including Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The review utilised PRISMA guidelines for systematic review methodology. The analysis revealed a predominance of studies emphasising the importance of digital infrastructure development (e.g., internet connectivity) as a foundational element for enhancing digital inclusion in rural settings. While technological solutions are crucial, this review underscores the need for multifaceted approaches that integrate community-based initiatives and educational programmes to bridge the digital gap effectively. Policy makers should prioritise investments in both physical infrastructure and capacity building through targeted training and development programmes. Community partnerships also play a critical role in sustaining long-term digital inclusion efforts. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin_{\theta}\sum_i\ell(y_i,f_\theta(x_i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert_2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.