The tenth anniversary of the Government Information Technology Council (GITOC) was celebrated at an awards dinner last night which also marked the opening of the inaugural Information Communication Technology (ICT) Governance Summit to be hosted by the Council from 14 to 16 August 2011, in Magaliesburg.
Delivering the keynote address at the event, Minister Baloyi cited that the importance of the occasion rested in the fact that the GITO Council continues to be both the advocate for and the agent of change in Information Technology (IT) mainstreaming, strategic location and coordination as well IT quality enhancement.
Through the collaborated efforts of the GITO Council, government has introduced and implemented frameworks, standards and policies such as the Minimum Interoperability Standards (MIOS); the Minimum Information Security Standards (MISS) policy; the Government-Wide Enterprise Architecture (GWEA) framework; the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) policy; the adoption of COBIT governance framework; the promulgation of State Information Technology Agency (SITA) regulations; incorporating a procurement regime for the whole of government and consequently the establishment of transversal contracts with engagement models for the acquisitioning of goods and services from those contracts.
Speaking at the dinner, Minister Baloyi acknowledged that the public service still had a long way to go with regards to the implementation of the adopted Information Communication Technology (ICT) Governance Framework. The GITO Council still had to unpack this framework, simplify and customise it for government and develop implementation guidelines for all government entities to gradually implement good governance policies and practices and attain high levels of maturity.
Some priority projects as identified by Minister Baloyi for execution by the Council include:
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Completion of the SITA turn-around process;
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Completion of the Government-wide ICT turn-around strategy;
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Perfecting the troika marriage of the GITOC, SITA and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) located within the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA);
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Realigning the coordination mechanism of the GITOC leadership with that of the OGCIO;
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Locating the GITOC role in the Govtech Conference arrangements;
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Providing clarity on GITOC-FOSAD interface;
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Sustaining SA's ranking in the International Community of Information Technology;
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Management of Technology and Information Security;
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The roll out of the Integrated Financial Management System;
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Intensify the fight against corruption in the IT business.
In his concluding remarks the Minister recognised that as the GITO Council celebrates 10 years of its existence, it has not been an easy decade for the Council. "Although much has been achieved by men and women who have dedicated their time to the transformation of our society, I believe much more still need to be done" concluded Minister Baloyi.
In attendance at the dinner were summit sponsors including gold sponsors Vodacom and MTN.
The inaugural summit to be attended by ICT leaders within government as well as industry experts is in session at the Mount Grace Country House and Spa, Magaliesburg from Sunday, 14 to Tuesday, 16 August 2011.
Enquiries:
Dumisani Nkwamba
Tel: 012 336 1704
Cell: 082 885 9448
E-mail: dumisanin@dpsa.gov.za
Lebohang Mafokosi
Tel: 012 336 1017
Cell: 082 312 4641
E-mail: lebohangm@dpsa.gov.za
