As the largest and most diversified economy in Africa, South Africa has taken the lead in the development of an Internet economy on the continent. However, the rapid growth between 1997 and 1998 of Internet sites and users in South Africa had slowed down considerably during 1999. Fifty-one percent of South African Internet users are women, up from 38 percent in March 1999, according to new survey from Webchek. Two thirds of Net users in South Africa have English as their home language and 56 percent have a third-level education. According to NUA, most users tend to have high incomes but the number of users with lower monthly household incomes is increasing.
Net users are also much more likely to go online every day at work rather than at home.
Work users also spend longer online each week and are more likely to have had Internet access for over three years. Email is the primary reason cited for going online, followed by searching for specific information. Forty-six percent of users bank online, up from 32 percent in March 1999. Ecommerce is also becoming increasingly popular, as 37 percent of home users and 33 percent of work users have now bought online, up from 21 percent and 25 percent respectively in March 1999. Books are the most popular online purchase and convenience is the main reason cited for buying on the Internet.