Thoko Xasa, speaks at a meeting of the Local Government Information
Communication Technology Council
30 August 2007
Honourable Councillors
Members of government departments
Municipal managers
Ladies and gentlemen:
It gives me great pleasure to be able to share some thoughts with you here
today. In government's commitment to delivering quality services to all our
people, it acknowledges the importance of communication throughout our society.
In the context of a developmental state the challenges facing us inevitably
require integrated solutions to these challenges.
Communication from a grassroots level is especially important. Serving the
citizens of South Africa and the Eastern Cape in particular, calls upon us to
listen to our people. It calls on us to develop our programmes and
Interventions, not those which are suitable for us as agencies, but rather to
address a need that was communicated to us. Also spreading the good news that
we have is often not carried in our media and so the responsibility and duty to
share this news falls to us as government. Whether it comes through the
Non-Governmental Organisation sector or organised systems such as ward
committees, communicating with all our people remains a distinct challenge for
all of us.
The nature of business and delivery is changing in the world. The existence
of the internet has made our world a smaller place, able to connect people from
different continents in matters of seconds. The opportunities to develop new
markets for our business sectors has unlimited potential with the use of
technology. No longer are physical borders and barriers an obstacle to
development and growth. This calls on us to also prepare our people for careers
and opportunities that these global markets afford us, even here in the Eastern
Cape.
Numerous business opportunities arise from Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) and our own Business Process Outsourcing initiative is
inextricably linked to our ability to develop Information Technology related
skills in the Province. As a creator of specialised skills, the ICT environment
in South Africa as a whole is something to be proud of. But we cannot rest when
other developing countries such as India and China are developing their skills
ready for export across the world. Our drive within this province will be to
share in the developmental agenda of ICT skills as part of our country's
contribution globally.
In the information age that we currently live in, access to information is
easier than ever. In an effort to enhance the ability of the state to function
better it becomes important that information from a variety of sources are
brought together, analysed and used as a basis for development decision
making.
Key amongst these, for us as a department, is the sharing of information
from a municipal, provincial to a national level. This must be a key item on
your agenda as we build a new and better South Africa. This kind of information
sharing puts us at a distinct advantage to determine firstly what is working
and what is not.
Secondly, we will be able to utilise this sharing of information to develop
interventions and approaches that will ultimately strengthen delivery at a
local level.
Thirdly, we will be in a position to utilise this information and develop
best practices and approaches which we can share amongst ourselves, other
provinces and even other countries.
In the final analysis, ICT has an immense role to play in our society today.
It will require all of us to develop new skills and capabilities to function
effectively. I am, however, confident that as a Council you have seen the
challenges facing us as a province and that within the time here, you will put
the very best ideas and actions forward to ultimately improve our ability to
serve.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Housing, Local Government and Traditional Affairs,
Eastern Cape Provincial Government
30 August 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecpg.gov.za/)
