The development of an Information Communication Technology (ICT) strategy was a pivotal step in the Department of Labour’s drive to deliver efficient services to its clients in the shortest possible time, Nkosinathi Nhleko, Director-General (DG), told over 100 staffers in Polokwane (Limpopo) on Monday.
This was during the seventh leg of his provincial feedback on issues raised by staff in 2011 during his initial visit to provinces. At the time, staffers spoke about the need to review amongst others the “archaic” ICT system as part of the organisational revamp.
He said: “Having a proper IT system enables an organisation to deliver on its mandate particularly in an environment such as ours where you may need to process claims of injured and deceased workers or pay Unemployment Insurance Fund beneficiaries on time.”
Nhleko, who was accompanied by some of his senior managers, said: “The last time we had something that resembled an ICT strategy was in 1998. This department has huge problems in so far as ICT is concerned and we had to do something to address this concern. A proper ICT strategy has to inform you as to how to use ICT in the delivery of services. The strategy was also useful in dealing with structural problems in the department.”
Lerato Molebatsi, Deputy Director-General, for Corporate Services in the department, said amongst questions raised by staff in 2011 was whether “we have computers that help us to fulfil the department’s mandate of paying claims for the injured, the deceased and beneficiaries of UIF on time.”
On office accommodation, Molebatsi said: “There are other Labour Centres that are safety hazards themselves and this is not acceptable, especially that we are the custodians of Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Turning to the organisational structure review, the DG said “leading consulting company, Deloitte and Touché will begin the exercise in two weeks. The Director General also highlighted the duplications that exist in the department which will be addressed through the Shanduka project.
Albert Tshidavhu, Chief Director: Provincial Office for Limpopo took time to congratulate the junior staff members who went beyond the call of duty to ensure that clients are given the best service at all times. The DG’s provincial feedback will still take place in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng in the next few weeks.
