Abstract
The Y2K phenomenon passed with little undesirable effects reported among the fourteen member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The Y2K bug had little effect on the region’s information systems in corporations such as telecommunications, power, finance, airlines, manufacturing, securities and the aviation industry. The pervasiveness of the bug and the inter-dependency of the region’s information and communication systems created panic. It was appreciated by member countries that fear of the bug would be the worst enemy of regional economies. The need to maintain confidence was critical to avoid the problems that could be caused by over-reaction. The countries of the region appreciated that the effects of Y2K would know no national or political boundaries and that every country would be affected in some way. The need for joint efforts in addressing the bug was therefore imperative. Within the framework of SADC, the countries of the region, either jointly or singly, put in place programmes and allocated financial resources to address the bug.
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