The e-Rural Access Programme's (eRAP) goal is to accelerate socio-economic development in rural South Africa through the innovative use of Information Communication Technology (ICT); to make online resources, information and services a reality to rural communities and to promote knowledge-based economies in rural South Africa. Furthermore eRAP’s purpose is to improve the quality and efficiency of front-line government service delivery and contribute towards increasing public participation in rural development by driving ICTs within rural South African communities. The eRAP will position itself as one of the key projects initiated to ensure that the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform's goals become a reality.

Thus eRAP will provide enhanced service delivery and develop communities through the appropriate and effective use of information and communication technology services in the rural communities of South Africa.

The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform seeks to directly assist the emergence of a competitive economy by providing internet access, development of knowledge economy skills, catalysing the formation of online communities, and knowledge economy which is the economic component of e-society where the generation and the exploitation of knowledge play a predominant part in the creation of wealth.