Sita procures technology equipment for government departments and runs the state’s payroll system and national voice and data networks.
One multimillion-rand tender for the National Prosecuting Authority was so badly bungled that Sita was fired from adjudicating the bids and Gartner analysts were asked to probe why it had been so incompetent.
When private technology companies report their annual results, Sita is often blamed for slowing down, rather than speeding up, the investment in IT that is crucial to improve government processes.
Sita CEO Mavuso Msimang has spent two years on a turnaround strategy of substantial job cuts, a flatter hierarchy, lower running costs and quicker procurement processes. The industry was beginning to recognise Sita’s progress and see an immense improvement in its ability to provide IT services to government, Msimang said.
At its inaugural Government Technology Conference beginning on October 30 in Sun City, Sita will draw together industry experts to exchange ideas. The five-day conference will cover information security, standardisation of technology products and services, e-government strategies and ways of reducing technology running costs.
“Our aim is to produce an acceptable compendium of knowledge and reach agreement on how to move ahead,” said Msimang. “All people in SA, including the destitute, need access to information and resources, and government has an obligation to provide efficient services instantly that will modernise the South African economy.”
Since government organisations were not obliged to obtain their IT services from Sita, partnerships could be formed only if Sita offered a superior service delivery, he said.
One example was that local government was collecting only 17% of revenue due to it, preventing delivery of acceptable levels of service.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Lesley Stones
Quelle/Source: MyADSL, 12.10.2006
