Dictionary: I | Western Cape Government

Dictionary: I

Definitions for government terms, listed alphabetically.
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Ikapa elihlumayo (A developing Cape) - Western Cape Government strategy aimed at growing and developing the province.
Illegal immigrants - A person who has moved to another country without getting permission from the government of that country.
Immigrant - A person who has moved to another country to settle there.
Immigration - Moving to a new country in order to settle there permanently.
Immunisation/vaccination - Innoculation; Process of injecting people with a vaccine which causes them to build up resistance to certain diseases.
Import and export control - Measures taken to ensure that goods brought into and taken out of the country are safe and legal.
Income tax - Tax you pay on any income that you have, such as your salary or wages.
Incubation - Keeping new-born (especially premature) babies, in controlled environments, where the temperature, humidity and oxygen levels can be kept at the best levels to ensure that the child develops optimally.
Indaba - A meeting to discuss important issues.
Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) - Statutory institution responsible for ensuring that television and radio content caters for all languages and cultural groups in South Africa and provides entertainment, education and information.

For more information visit the IBA website.
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) - The institution set up by the Constitution that is responsible for organising elections and making sure that the elections are free and fair.
Indigenous - Native to or originating in an area. Something that is produced, lives or grows naturally in a particular region.
Infant mortality rate - The number of children under one year old who died in a year. For example 1 per 1 000 means that one child died for every 1000 that were alive.

The infant mortality rate in South Africa in 2004 was 62.18. This means that 62 children out of every 1000 children die before their first birthday.
Infertility - Inability to have children.
Inflation - The general and sustained increase in prices. It is measured as a percentage change in the consumer price index (CPI).
Informal settlement - Houses and shacks built on undeveloped land. There are no services like electricity, running water and sanitation.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) - Technologies, products and services involved in displaying, processing, storing and transmitting electronic information.
Infrastructure - Basic facilities and services, such as roads, water pipes, schools and hospitals.
Insolvency - Bankruptcy. When a person cannot pay their debts even by selling all their possessions.
Intellectual property - Valuable intangible assets.

The different types of intellectual property include copyright, patents, designs and trademarks.

For example new designs, works of art or other original creations, innovative business processes or business branding.
Interdict - A court order to prevent someone from doing something or to force someone to do something.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) - A specialized UN agency responsible for stabilizing international exchange rates. It provides loans to member countries.
Internet service provider - An accredited company that connects individuals or businesses to the internet.
Interpellation - A fifteen minute debate around a question posed to a cabinet minister by a member of parliament.
Intestate succession - Way that the deceased's property is shared out if they died without a valid will.
Irrigation system - Infrastructure of pipes, ditches, streams and/or sprinklers that brings water to an area of land.

Often used in agriculture to automate the watering of crops.