launch of the innovative website
7 December 2006
Programme Director
Members of the Executive Council
Honourable Members of Legislature
Mayors and leaders in our system of local government
Directors-General and other leaders of the public service
Heads of our security services
Heads of the state organs
Media representatives
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
As a responsible government we have major responsibility to communicate to
the electorate what the government is doing for the people. Therefore the
launch of this website is an exciting fulfilment of our dream and promise since
the launch of the first government website in 2001.
As President Mbeki said when he launched the first government website, "from
the point of view of the government, this is important because we do indeed
sincerely believe that when we talk about a democratic system in South Africa,
which is responsive to the feelings, the ideas, the moods, the needs and so on
of the people, it is important that the people should know what the government
is doing."
The purpose of this new communication tool is the provision of programmes
and services to the public 24 hours a day and for facilitating interactive,
two-way communication and feedback both within the department and with an
external audience. It provides opportunities to reach and connect with our
people wherever they reside.
Information is power; those without it have no power to access and benefit
from a myriad of government services. Therefore the launching of this website
is very much part of that process of ensuring the accessibility of government
to the people.
We are therefore delivering to the Batho Pele principle of information
access and the new Access to Information Act, which is clear democratic
evidence that we want to empower our people with information so that they can
access government services at their will.
Benefits of the website launch
This new website was first up and running in June 2006 for the community,
the general public and to our stakeholders with the intention to give public
information about hospitals, [complexes, regional, tuberculosis (TB),
psychiatric and district], Community Healthcare Centres (CHC), and clinic
WebPages.
As a communication tool the website will make the department more accessible
to the general public than ever before and it will reinforce the vision and
identity of our department. It is designed to meet a growing demand by our
people to access electronic government information and Government's commitment
to decentralising access to services.
Initially, our website concentrated on delivering information and content
about the department and community services. Now, we want to shift its emphasis
so that it is more about delivering public services online, rather than simply
delivering public information online.
What is our responsibility to make sure that the website is up to-date?
Programme managers are expected to have input on the website by supplying
public information to the website. Promotion of the website is everyone's task
and not only the Communications Directorate. Staff members must own this
website. Our Information Technology (IT) must ensure that all government
websites are accessible by staff members of the department. People should come
back to our website because they find the information they need and they know
that new information is going to be added to make a return visit worthwhile.
The website should attract health professionals working in foreign countries.
The website address should appear to all our stationery and publications
(business cards, letter head, newsletters, fax cover sheets, etc.)
As we approach 2010 we need to position ourselves to the international
standards so that our visitors will have confidence in us as the premier
province where their health conditions can be assured, while they contribute to
our tourism economy. We will therefore not only keep track and quickly respond
to the proposals and constructive recommendations but also regularly update the
website so that it does not reflect links which are non existent.
I ask therefore that the website specialists of our government regularly
update me of their concerns and indicate whether the website is fulfilling its
function as a process of entrenching the system of democratic governance and
popular participation in the system of government.
I now officially have pleasure in launching anew innovative website of the
Department of Health.
I thank you for your time.
Issued by: Eastern Cape Provincial Government
7 December 2006
