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E-govErnmEnt

SA’s e-government strategy showing progress

South Africa’s e-government strategy progresses better than those of neighbouring countries, writes iweb’s IT in
government editor, simnikiwe mzekandaba.

Unlike its counterparts in sub-Saharan According to Gavin Holme, country in SA faces the same challenges as
Africa (SSA), SA’s e-government strategy manager for Africa at Wipro, the seen by the private sector, such as
shows evidence of growing progress. first step on the journey to true the lack of an adequate skills pool to
Analysts believe that, although there is e-government services is to replace develop e-government services and
room for improvement, the South African all legacy infrastructure. “Latest- solutions, and a dearth of skills within
government’s use of information and generation enterprise technologies have organisations.
communication technology (ICT) to the potential to improve financial and
deliver basic services to its citizens has operational management within public “In addition, there is the challenge of
progressed. sector entities, and enhance service infrastructure and access to services;
delivery to citizens. one of the main barriers is the cost of
Having realised that ICT plays a key role access to these services,” he says.
in modernising government services “By simplifying and standardising on Laura Caetano, ICT research analyst at
and has benefits for service delivery, certain technology sets, government is Frost & Sullivan Africa, notes that some
the SA’s government had developed its able to create operational efficiencies of the primary factors hindering the
own e-government policy framework. and more easily fulfil its various efficient rollout of e-government plans in
The framework proposed using ICT to mandates.” SA are, in part, due to the inconsistent
improve government’s efficiency and implementation and view of technology
effectiveness, and to enhance citizens’ gauteng shows the way development across municipal govern-
convenience and their access to ments and departments.
government services.
Gauteng is taking the lead as one She explains, “Different government
of SA’s most modernised provinces,
Notable e-government services intro- departments, and levels of government,
duced to date include the National having achieved major e-government pursue individual strategies, which
Treasury’s e-tender publication portal, a objectives. In 2015, the Gauteng results in an incompatibility of systems
central supplier database, e-Home Affairs Provincial Government established the on a national scale, potentially limiting
and the SA Revenue Services’ e-filing Department of e-Government as part growth in the future at a time when
system. Local government departments of a restructuring process to ensure convergence and alignment will be
have also introduced specific initiatives that departments in the province were necessary. Cost is another hindrance,
such as Gauteng’s e-invoicing service, able to talk to each other seamlessly. as the national budget does not allow
the City of Ekurhuleni’s online system Gauteng Premier David Makhura says for the expensive technologies required
for paying rates, and the City of Cape that his administration will continue to reach e-government objectives. A
Town’s digitised government information to invest in ICT infrastructure as the larger portion of the budget needs to
system to enable easy access for its province positions itself as a driver of be allocated to ICT spend, as there
citizens. SA’s digital economy, a hub of research are significant socio-economic benefits
and innovation in SSA.
that can be derived.” However, it’s not
ICT research analyst at Frost & all doom and gloom, as there are areas
Sullivan Africa, Mauritz Venter, says SA Together with its local municipalities, the that can be improved to ensure that
fares relatively well when compared Gauteng Provincial Government plays government effectively implements
to its counterparts in SSA. “Major a key role in deploying and using ICT the e-government strategy. Fadzai
e-government goals include reducing to deliver education, healthcare and Deda, an ICT research analyst at Frost
costs whilst enhancing service other government services, he added. & Sullivan Africa, says that strategic
delivery, expanding the national “Our goal remains that of being a smart partnerships are critical to ensuring that
broadband rollout, particularly to province and we will continue to invest government can adequately deliver on
rural marginalised communities, and significantly in ICT infrastructure and its e-government strategy.
improving national computer literacy be a leader in e-government services.
and ICT skills. Metropolitans like Cape High-speed internet connectivity is “Essentially, creating an enabling
Town, Johannesburg and Tshwane a critical foundational infrastructure environment through consistent policy
have implemented local government requirement for success of our govern- development and implementation,
e-strategies and, in doing so, have ment’s modernisation agenda.” education of constituents to promote
allowed their constituents unparalleled uptake and ensuring adequate access
access and connectivity to the internet No skills, high costs to capital where necessary.” Hurst
economy and its inherent benefits.” concludes that government has taken
Richard Hurst, director of Enterprise some bold steps, but perhaps there
Research at Africa Analysis, says that While there is growing evidence that is a need to develop e-government
there are some high points as well SA’s e-government strategy is taking champions within the public sector
as low points in the progress of the great strides, pundits note that there are who can take projects and nurture
e-government strategy, but overall there factors hindering it. According to Hurst, them, while increasing stakeholder
has been some good progress. the development of e-government participation or buy-in. n

14 SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW | Volume 11 No. 3 of 2018