A framework for web archiving for municipalities in the KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa

Abstract

A website is one of the tools that an organisation can use to communicate information to the outside world. Some of the records published on websites are often in paper format in record-keeping systems. Other records, on the other hand, are created in a digital environment and are not captured in record-keeping systems. While it is considered a record, many organisations, including municipalities, do not manage websites as such. This study used the web archiving life cycle theory to explore the development of a framework for the archiving of websites in the municipalities of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in South Africa. This qualitative study triangulated data from interviews and document analysis with a purposively selected sample of 53 municipalities in KZN. The study discovered that municipalities did not regard websites as historical records, and there were no measures in place to ensure website preservation. It was also revealed that municipalities rely heavily on service providers to keep their websites operational. It was also discovered that, even though municipalities in KZN have ICT and records management policies in place, no provisions for web archiving were in place. To provide effective service delivery, the study recommends that government institutions in South Africa, particularly municipalities, have explicit rules for web archiving. Municipalities, it was also stated, must reinvest in skills training to better equip their staff. The study continues to recommend that municipalities in KZN implement a web archiving system to ensure that all information posted on websites is accessible. The study also proposes a framework for supporting municipalities with website archiving.