The briefing, hosted by biometric identity control specialists Ideco and Stanley Security, in partnership with ITWeb, outlined the risks of identity fraud in financial services, and the inadequacy of existing identification methods.
Ideco MD Marius Coetzee said SA was adopting biometric technology in many industry verticals, with Ideco technology being used to verify the identities of over 2.5 million employees around the country.
Over the past three weeks, the Gauteng Department of Finance has noted media reports that created an impression that the GautengOnline Programme is in a "completely dysfunctional" state that the project is operating at "40% capacity" and some "schools have removed it in their time tables"due to"persistent technical glitches.
We are concerned with these reports because the GautengOnline Programme is one of the Provincial Government's flagship information and communications technology (ICT) projects. It exists not just to provide computer literacy, but to support the delivery of quality basic education, thereby creating a sustainable e-learning environment in public schools where learners could maximise their potential.
Many years of disorganisation at the Department of Communications (DOC) has left SA without a national ICT policy, and without the co-ordinated efforts to stimulate local IT markets. The DOC recently held a colloquium intended to kick-start the policy process, but will it yield results in time to salvage SA's competitive standings?
A national ICT policy should cover three broad areas, while remaining closely aligned to overall government objectives. The stimulation of the IT industry, measured by sector performance versus GDP, is one key area. Another is e-government: the use of ICT to improve government services internally, or deliver services electronically. And regulation is also fundamental, with issues such as spectrum allocation and management of the competitive telecoms environment at the forefront of ICT development.
The “Virtual Office” will allow those employees who have access to the Internet to apply for UIF benefits online.
During her budget vote speech this week, labour minister Mildred Oliphant said the new system electronically connects the unemployed with their former employers.
“Network operators must be encouraged to share infrastructure which, I believe, will enable them to make savings and maximise broadband deployment to the home and business as well as reduce the cost to communicate,” she said.
Read more: ZA: Department of Communications outlines future ICT plans