The objectives of the Launching Conference of the South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE) are reviewed, and its recommendations are explored. The conference participants considered how theories, teaching, and administrative practices in distance education worldwide could be used to design a new distance education system for a democratic South Africa. It was necessary to recognize that present practices are not adequate alone, and that student success depends on the quality of educational experience that an institution provides. The conference has therefore provided a good forum for considering how access to education and equal educational opportunities can be established. A summary of what delegates want from SAIDE includes the following roles: (1) policy, advocacy, and lobbying; (2) networking, cooperation, and facilitating; (3) acting as a resource center; (4) acting as a research and evaluation body; (5) training and staff development; (6) initiation and enabling; and (7) immediate tasks of information dissemination and administrative efforts. (SLD)