Page 31 - Service Delivery Review

Gauteng E-Government Department

“We will establish an integrated intelligence operations the continent’s hub of innovation and digital
centre, including an e-Panic Button solution. This transformation. The development of this 4IR strategy
button will link to law enforcement officers, meaning is an important milestone reached by the province.
when a resident is in distress, press it and immediately Its focus is on the following areas: Digital and
alert the police,” the MEC said. Infrastructure technologies; Growth and Strategy; 4lR
Research, Development and Innovation; 4lR Skills
“We are in the midst of the 5 Industrial Revolution Development and 4IR Governance. These will result
th
where technology such as Closed-Circuit Televisions in the attainment of an innovative and connected City
are used to track criminals and assist police in Region envisaged in years to come.
apprehending them. In other countries, police are
already using body cams to fight crime and monitor Amongst the main issues that the strategy seeks to
how criminals carry out their deeds. Amongst these address is the need to connect communities to the
new interventions, the Department will develop broadband network. There are still many unconnected
various high-tech equipment to be utilised by law government institutions (schools, clinics) and
enforcement, including high-calibre face recognition underserved communities (mainly provincial rural
apparatus and high-quality drones, centred on areas). Furthermore, the strategy seeks to address
crime-fighting around motor vehicles and weapons the notion that there is also a lack of a single view of
tracking,” added the MEC. public and private telecommunications infrastructure,
as a result, more and more collaborations must be
MEC Khumalo also mentioned that the department promoted.
aims to install face recognition technology on all
major roads and business centres. This will assist in In addition, some issues are barriers to effective
tracking individuals committing crimes. Furthermore, broadband implementation and must be resolved.
the department will use drones in several areas to These include lengthy wayleave approvals,
fight crime. unreasonable and way-leaves fees and community
outrage (especially on tower erection). Many of us
“For all these interventions to work effectively and be have witnessed the situation in which projects are
fully implemented, Research and Development plays brought to a standstill because the community was
a significant role in ensuring value for money and not sufficiently consulted, especially when local
effective technology-driven solutions are developed businesses lack involvement.
and implemented accordingly”, the MEC indicated.
The MEC said, “I am really hoping that these will be
The advent of the 4th industrial Revolution has resolved now that e-Government and COGTA are
disrupted every industry. Citizens across nations merged. This is to ensure clarity of the prioritisation
expect their governments to offer smarter ways to of the #TISH (township, informal settlement and
communicate and access Government 2 Citizens Hostels) in the day-to-day agenda of the province”.
services. The Gauteng government has hosted
engagements in the modernisation programme of Therefore, R&D is added to the mandate of the
public services to meet this expectation. This was in department of e-Government to ensure that
the areas of the economy, human settlements & urban the province creates an enabling framework for
development, public transport infrastructure, etc., advancing Digital Transformation that would provide
which is in line with the province’s transformation, more effective implementation and realisation of the
modernisation and re-industrialisation programme. identified key priorities of the province. Through R&D,
innovation with the potential to grow the economy
The Department has adopted the 4th Industrial and accelerate job creation in the Gauteng Province
Revolution (4lR) strategy to ensure that Gauteng can be unlocked.
is at the forefront of South Africa’s effort to be

SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW | Volume 15 • No. 2 of 2022/2023 31