Abstract
Cyber trends are a reality across the globe. Not only are technology and
electronic devices and media used more regularly in easing everyday activities, but
these technological advances are also used in sophisticated criminal activities.
Regardless of the global innovation and development ranking of a country, all
countries tend to show the same global trends, either on a more or lesser scale. Some
of the more prominent global trends are identified and discussed. This paper aims to
show that these global cyber trends are also a reality in South Africa, by addressing
some of the most prominent global trends. Based on the statistics available to support
the presence of high cyber trends, as present in high ranked countries across the
globe, this article shows that technology within South Africa has advanced to such
an extent that the country is not unduly hurdled by large scale lack of connectivity
and bandwidth, computer illiteracy, low Internet penetration and inadequate cyber
crime related legislation. The discussion within this paper places South Africa on
par with first world countries in terms of cyber trends.