DPSA spokesperson Sunil Geness said the focus of the conference was to establish a blueprint and appropriate structures to implement e-Governance in Africa.
Through e-Governance, the various public service ministries aim to improve administration within their governments as well as the service their governments provide to business and society in general.
'Project Gateway'
South Africa's plans for e-Governance are well underway with the DPSA's "Project Gateway" due to be launched in June 2003.
Geness said through Gateway, government information and services would be made available to all via the internet, cellphones, telephones, faxing and at various kiosks at shopping centres at any time.
Therefore, for example, one would be able to pay a traffic fine or order a new identity document from the comfort of one's home.
Geness said e-Governance would also improve the running of government and internal communication between departments. This would improve departments' access to information and the delivery of services in an integrated and transparent manner.
Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi
Speaking at the opening of the conference, Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said e-Governance would create real, accurate, affordable and convenient access to the services of government for all the people of Africa.
"Traditionally, we have been limited to dealing with government within the confines of office hours and buildings. With e-Government, this constraint can once and for all be eliminated."
Fraser-Moleketi said e-Governance would only work if there was a broad consensus among political and administrative decision makers, careful planning, changes to institutional infrastructure and a paradigm shift to a new way of handling and delivering services.
Geness said the e-Africa conference would be followed up with the establishment of a high level steering committee to co-ordinate activities between government on e-Governance and to infuse e-Governance into the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the African Union.
Quelle: news24
