Citizen Trust in E-Government Strategies

This study investigates citizen trust in e-government strategies in the Oliver Reginald (OR) Tambo District municipality. The study used a self-administered online Likert scale-structured questionnaire to collect data, involving a sample of 400 citizens and generating 197 responses through a systematic and descriptive research design. The research, employing a quantitative method, revealed a divided perception of e-government services, despite widespread support for them. For instance, 60.9% of respondents have shown trust in the municipality's ability to deliver services through e-government, while 61.4% expressed concerns over data security. This study highlights that there is a myriad of challenges faced by e-government strategies in developing countries, emphasising the need for awareness programs, inclusivity, robust security measures, and active citizen involvement. The contribution of this study is to enhance citizen-centric e-government practices that will address transparency, accountability, and empowerment, ultimately enhancing democratic governance of e-services in a developing context.