The Case for Immediate Action on Public Sector Digital Transformation is urgently needed

The compelling case for digital transformation in the public sector was emphasized by Ms Lerato Mathabatha, a representative from Microsoft South Africa, during the “Advancing Digital Transformation and Innovation in the Public Sector” hybrid workshop held yesterday, September 5^th 2023.

The workshop, organized in collaboration between the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), the Digital Council Africa (DCA), and Microsoft South Africa, gathered Government Chief Information Officers (CIOs), private sector ICT specialists, and senior officials from the State Information Technology Agency (SITA).

The workshop attendees unanimously agreed that the need for digital transformation in the public sector is indisputable. Each speaker and panellist highlighted the numerous benefits that come with a truly digital public sector. However, the discussions also addressed the significant obstacles that hinder the digitalization of government services, particularly the low maturity levels of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the public sector.

During his keynote address, Mr Lucas Mogashoa, Executive for Corporate and Digital Strategy at SITA, stressed the importance of not only improving service delivery efficiencies but also deploying ICT resources to achieve cost savings in the digital transformation of the public sector. Mr. Mogashoa pointed out that there is a considerable amount of duplicated effort within the government, with approximately 70% of required solutions being similar across various institutions, and the remaining 30% being unique to specific entities.

To overcome this duplication, he proposed capitalizing on common technology needs and solutions within the public sector while leveraging the capabilities and expertise of the private sector, both domestically and internationally. Mr Mogashoa highlighted that having digital transformation capabilities such as Cloud Technology would facilitate quick turnaround times in innovation, making the government more relevant and up to date in meeting the needs of its citizens.

Although the panellists and participants acknowledged the public sector’s progress in digital transformation, they also recognized that efforts are hampered by various challenges, including policy, financial, and capacity constraints.

Mr. Zaid Aboobaker, Acting Deputy Director-General (ADDG) for e-Government Service and Information Management (eGSIM) at the DPSA, emphasized that while digital transformation offers clear benefits, it also exposes the public sector to cybersecurity threats for which the government is often ill-prepared. He highlighted the lack of capacity, both in terms of skills and resources, with only 63 dedicated cybersecurity personnel for the 161 national and provincial departments.

These concerns were further emphasized by Ms. Mathabatha from Microsoft South Africa, who projected that cybersecurity would account for around 75% of the work of Government Chief Information Officers by 2025. Mr. Aboobaker emphasized that digital transformation is a change management journey, not just a technological one, and called for engaging with a broader audience beyond technology professionals to drive successful transformation efforts.

Ms Lydia Sebokedi, Acting Executive Director of the Centre for Public Sector Innovation (CPIS), showcased several innovations supported by the CPIS through the annual Public Sector Innovation Awards, including the award-winning Digital Fingerprint System recently handed over to the Gauteng Forensic Pathology Service for identifying unknown deceased individuals.

The workshop highlighted the urgent need for immediate action in advancing digital transformation in the public sector. While the benefits are evident, challenges such as policy alignment, financial constraints, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities need to be addressed. The collaboration between public and private sectors, as well as the engagement of a broader audience beyond technology professionals, will be crucial in driving successful digital transformation efforts. The workshop served as a platform to share innovative ideas and solutions, demonstrating the potential for positive change in the public sector through digital transformation.