Biography
Coetzee Bester has more than 45 years’ experience in political organisation, management, representation and training. This includes political activities at the local, provincial, national and international level. His focus over the years has been the involvement and growth of democracy on the African continent. His service has been by a variety of internationally recognised European- and USA-based organisations, including Presidents and government leaders. He is also an esteemed academic, who is recognised for his work on information ethics, anthropology, cultural diversity and sustainable development against the background of Society 4.0 and the disruptive technologies associated with it.
His political career included serving in the political office of President FW de Klerk and as a Member of Parliament under President Nelson Mandela and Deputy-President FW de Klerk. He was a member of the Constitution Writing Assembly, which finalised the country’s historic post-apartheid constitution. This practical experience in political management qualified him to facilitate leadership schools in more than 25 African countries. Over the past quarter of a century, he has assisted various governments with policy formulation to achieve sustainable development in Africa, as well as the management of challenges related to radicalism, racism, ethnic violence and cultural diversity. He has assisted a number of African countries to develop democratic structures and active political parties. His focus has included the design of election campaigns and the management of free and fair elections.
His anthropological research and information management experience in Africa provided the platform for his academic career. His master’s degree, obtained cum laude from the University of Pretoria, entailed the design of an integrated model to manage information in community development projects in Africa. His DPhil degree focused on teaching information ethics at universities, in communities and in schools in Africa. His current research focus is on ethical artificial intelligence (AI) and the sustainable development of smart cities and smart communities.
As a part-time and extraordinary lecturer at the University of Pretoria, he served as the Director of the African Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics (ACEIE) from 2012 until June 2020. This entity operated on an academic network of 112 academic institutions in 22 African countries. Since August 2022, he has coordinated the Information Ethics Network for Africa (IEN4Africa), based at the University’s Future Africa Institute.
He has been active in various programmes and projects of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and served as the South African Chairperson on the UNESCO Information for All Programme (IFAP). His consultation activities include management and leadership development, strategic planning, transformation, election campaign planning, observer mission training, problem-solving and negotiation skills development, and addressing racial conflict.
Qualifications
- DPhil in Information Science (University of Pretoria): 2018
- Master in Information Science cum laude (University of Pretoria): 2007
- Certificate in Strategic Leadership: (Stellenbosch University): 1995
- Diploma in Tertiary Education (University of Pretoria): 1990
- Bachelor of Arts Honours (University of Pretoria): 1986
- Bachelor of Arts (University of Pretoria): 1979
Career Highlights
2020 to 2024
Involved in the design of a South African information society that will include smart governance, smart societies and smart households, including the design and implementation of an educational pipeline that includes schools, new technical vocational education and training (TVET) colleges and a new university in the Southern Cape.
2016 to 2021
Chairperson: UNESCO Information for All (IFAP) South Africa
2015 to 2016
Development of a digital wellness toolkit, comprising nine books, by the African Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics (ACEIE) and the Department of Information Science at the University of Pretoria (UP)
2012 to 2019
Director: African Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics, UP
2009 to 2011
- Executive Director: African Network for Information Ethics
- Facilitated the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics in Africa, UP
- Member of the management team of the African Network on Information Ethics (ANIE).
2003 to 2011
Part-time and extraordinary lecturer in Information Ethics, UP (lecturing on aspects relating to different concepts on the information society and its influence on policies, development and the impact on communities in Africa)
2000 to 2024
Political and governance consultation and facilitation: Assisting and advising government sectors on matters of community development, local government, economic and infrastructure development, political policies and the management of cultural diversity.
1994 to 1999
- Member of Parliament, serving under President Nelson Mandela
- Member of the Constitutional Assembly of South Africa
- Director of the Institute for Political Leadership (IPL)
2014 - 2022
Consultation Activities
Organised and participated in various national workshops and conferences, including for UNESCO
2012 to 2014
- Addressed the Society for the Advancement of Science in Africa (SASA) at its inaugural meeting in Polokwane
- Addressed the topic of multidisciplinary thinking in research, teaching and community engagement and facilitated sessions of the Research Ethics, Integrity and Quality Assurance Conference 2013, in Craighall Johannesburg.
- Addressed the Lex-Informatica 2013: Cyber Law and Information Ethics Conference on information ethics in Africa at the University of Pretoria, Pretoria.
- Addressed and facilitated sessions at the March 2013 Workshop on ICT in Higher Education in Midrand, Johannesburg.
- Participated in various radio interviews on matters related to information ethics in South Africa.
- Moderated the Vodacom Workshop on the Future of Privacy and the World in 2020 and the South African Act on the Protection of Private Information
- Conducted a UNESCO workshop in Lesotho and Windhoek
- Addressed the ANIE International Conference in Uganda
- Addressed the UNESCO joint consultative meeting in SADC and the Multi-sector Regional Office in Harare
- Addressed the Uganda Workshop on Information Ethics
- Attended the eLearning Africa Week in Windhoek
- Addressed the UNESCO WSIS +10 Workshop in Paris, France.
2011
- Co-chair of the Workshop on the Curriculum for Teaching Information Ethics, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
- Co-organiser of the ANIE Information Ethics Research Workshop, University of Pretoria
- Addressed the Forum of Community Journalists at its annual conference in Gauteng, South Africa.
- Addressed the Presidential National Commission: Multistakeholder Forum
- Addressed the Yale Law School on the Information Society Project
- Delivered a poster presentation at the 3rd International ICST Conference on e-Infrastructure and e-Services for Developing Countries (SADC)
2010
- Delivered a report on intercultural information ethics in the global information ecosystem at the University of Pittsburgh, USA
- Delivered a paper at the IDC Euro-Mediterranean Semina on the EU-Africa relationship in Morocco
- Formed part of the academic and organisational team that presented the 2nd ANIE Conference at the University of Botswana
2009
Delivered a leading paper on information ethics and e-government in developing countries as part of the DLIS 2009 Biennial International Conference at the University of Botswana
2008
- Keynote speaker at the Conference on Community Development at the University of Ibaden, Nigeria
- Guest lecturer at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
2007
- Co-organiser of the 15 African country Conference on Information Ethics (UNESCO)
- Keynote speaker at the University of South Carolina Upstate Conference, USA
2006
Co-founder of The University of Africa in Zambia
2004 - 2011
Trustee of the IDC Africa Region (Democratic Parties of Africa)
2003 - 2006
Facilitated the tertiary education restructuring processes (Minister of Education) in South Africa
2003 - 2006
Conduct SADC countries local government development workshops (Department of Provincial and Local Government)
2002 to 2006
- Facilitated anti-racism programmes (Iscor Foundation and Gauteng Department of Education)
- Addressed graduation ceremonies of the Tshwane University of Technology in Zambia and Zimbabwe
- Presented a paper on an African-based contribution towards the debate on populism vs democracy at the IDC meeting in Rio de Janeiro
- Presented various workshops on multi-party democracy in 6 SADC countries
Membership of National and International Bodies
- Coordinator: Information Ethics Network for Africa (IEN4Africa)
- Coordinator: UNESCO Media and Information Literacy 2021 Conference
- Director: Africa Institute for Leadership, Research and Development based in Lagos, Nigeria (2000 to date)
- Member of UNESCO IFAP Working Group for Information Ethics (2019–2021)
- Africa Chairperson: International Centre for Information Ethics (2019–to date)
- UNESCO IFAP Chairperson: South Africa (2018–2021)
- Board member of the National Institute for the Deaf (2015–2021)
- Founding member of the Board of Trustees of the FW de Klerk Foundation (1999 to date)
- Management Team of the African Chapter of the International Network for Information Ethics (ANIE)
- Advisor: National Institute for the Deaf
- Member: Unashamedly Ethical Organisation
- Member: South African Anthropological Society
- Member: Parliamentary Association of South Africa
- Chairperson: Roodeplaat Developers Forum
- Director of various companies related to business and political consultation, printing and publishing, as well as property development and management
Awards
Received the Africa Network for Information Ethics Award in 2010 for his commitment and global contribution towards the results of the Network in Africa.
Publications
Journal Articles
- Bester, B.C. 2010. Reflections on 2011 ANIE activities towards teaching information ethics in Africa. International Review of Information Ethics 14(12).
- Bester, B.C. & Bothma, R. 2013. Chronological discussion of ANIE events 2007–2012. Innovation 46:12–24.
- Bester, B.C., Britz, J.J. & Merkenstein, A. 2008. Management of information in development projects: A proposed integrated model. South African Journal of Information Management 10(1).
- Bradshaw, Y., Britz, J.J., Bester, C. & Bothma, T.J.D. 2007. Using information technology to create global classrooms: benefits and ethical dilemmas. International Review of Information Ethics 7.
- Britz, J.J., Lor, P.J., Coetzee, I.E.M. & Bester, B.C. 2006. Africa as a knowledge society: A reality check. International Information and Library Review 38:25–40.
Books and chapters in books
- Bester, B C. 2004. The new morality and democracy in Africa. The role and responsibilities of leadership and governments for ICT development in the African Union. In: T. Mendina & J.J. Britz (eds.). Information ethics in the electronic age. Current issues in Africa and the world. pp. 7–14.
- Bester, B.C., Britz, J.J., Capurro, R. & Fischer, R. (eds.). 2021. Nelson Mandela – A reader on information ethics. ISBN: 978-1-928440-87-1.
- Capurro, R., Britz, J.J., Bothma, T.J.D. & Bester, B.C. (eds.). 2007. Africa reader on information ethics. ISBN 978-0-620-45627-2.
- Fischer, R. & Bester, B.C. 2020. IE at LIS Institutions in Africa and its relevance to MIL Cities. In: Das Cidades inteligentes às Cidades MIL, Metricas inspirades no olhar. UNESCO.
- Fischer, R., Britz, J.J. & Bester, B.C. 2016. The train has left the station: Chronicles of the African Network for Information Ethics and The African Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics. In: Information cultures in the digital age. Springer
- Le Sueur, C., Hommes, E. & Bester, C.B. (eds.). 2013. Concepts in information ethics. An introductory workbook. ISBN 978-1-920527-84-6.
- Malan, B. & Bester, C.B. 2014. Curriculum to teach information ethics at universities in Africa. African Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics.
- Ocholla, D., Britz, J.J., Capurro, R. & Bester, C.B. (eds.). 2013. A handbook for information ethics in Africa. Cross-cutting themes. ISBN 978-1-920527-65-5.
Conference papers and keynote addresses
- Britz, J.J. & Bester, B.C. 2011. The development of information ethics in Africa. ASIST Post Conference, Pittsburg, USA, October 2010.
Theses and Dissertations
- Bester, B.C. 2007. A proposed multi-disciplinary and integrated model for managing the flow of information in development projects in Africa.
- Bester, B.C.2018. The development of a Curriculum Model for the Teaching and Training of Information Ethics at different educational levels in a multi-cultural Southern Africa. University of Pretoria.
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