South Africa Showcase its progress on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) development at global arena.
Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration, Mr Radhakrishna Padayachie (Roy) led a delegation that attended the 2010 global city Informatisation Forum in Shangai, China on 24 to 27 September 2010. The forum provided a platform for government leaders, decision-makers and policy developers to exchange visions, policies and strategies on ICT application and development to enhance the mutual understanding and cooperation for economic and social development among the participating cities and countries.
The Forum further endeavors to narrow the gap among the cities and regions in terms of ICT application and availability of information for the citizens. Over 300 delegates attended the Forum from all over the world. The South African delegation was made up of officials from the following ministry of Public Service and Administration Portfolios, State Information and Technology Agency (SITA), Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy (PALAMA) and Centre of Public Service Innovation (CPSI).
Deputy Minister Padayachie also delivered a paper on “Bridging the digital divide and promoting equality of information sharing: Urban Best Practice”. In this presentation he indicated that South Africa’s telecommunications infrastructure is 99% digital and includes the latest fixed-line, wireless and satellite communications. An undersea telecommunication cable, the Seacom, links Johannesburg, Nairobi and Kampala with India and Europe and aims to make bandwidth up to 50% cheaper. He further indicated that the number of South African Internet users has passed the five-million mark in 2010 and the country has approximately 34.1 million cell phone users.
The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) has developed and piloted a Poverty Index for the City of Johannesburg to enable the City to track human development and to plan holistically on its pro-poor services. The National Departments of Housing, Social Development and Health, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) are key participants in this government-wide information exchange project.
South African government has also developed a “Mobizen” technology which is also referred to as M-government. This is a functional subset of all inclusive e-government which provides citizens with unique opportunities to access services and information through mobile phones 24 hours of the day. This technology enjoys preference because the majority of South Africans have access to cell phones in contrast to a computer with internet access.
South African Government is also using the Thusong Service Centres (places of help) to further increase access to services through ICT especially in poor communities. These Service Centres are the one-stop, integrated community development centres whoseaims are to empower the poor and disadvantaged people by providing access to information, services and resources through ICT connectivity. Services that are provided in these centres include application for Identity Documents, Birth Certificates, social grants and postal services.
CPSI has received four awards for outstanding performance in public administration. The awards were presented to Deputy Minister Radhakrishna Padayachie and CPSI.
The South African delegation under the leadership of Deputy Minister Padayachie also visited the World Expo 2010 made a call on the South African Exhibition in the Expo. Deputy Minister has congratulated the South African team for putting the outstanding presentation which gave global community appreciation of South Africa’s best efforts in building a modern economy. Deputy Minister was also informed that the attendance exceeded 2 million which was beyond their expectations.
Deputy Minister Padayachie and the delegation are proceeding to Beijing where he will have ministerial meeting with the Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security. The meeting will focus on the South Africa – China bilateral agreements on e-government and public services as important follow up on President Jacob Zuma’s recent state visit to China in which comprehensive strategic Partnership was signed between the two countries.
Issued by: Kuben Govender
Tel: 012 441 6344
Cell: 0820499629
Email: kuben.govender@palama.gov.za
Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration, Mr RL (Roy) Padayachie, MP on his official visit to China
