According to a press release distributed by the Government Communication and Information Service (CGIS) yesterday, the Minister of Public Services and Administration Geraldine Frasier-Moleketi, says the site can be accessed on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - however, this is incorrect - the correct link is: www.services.gov.za. The press release says that the e-Government Gateway portal will be made available through the existing www.gov.za site so as to build on the familiarity that South Africans already have with government information.
The aim of the e-Government Gateway is to set up an integrated one-stop service centre, to allow the public a 24-hour incorporated access to a range of government services.
According to the official release, government aims to use the project to deliver optimised service delivery, public participation and governance through technology such as the Internet and new media.
The Minister says the launch of the first phase would focus on improved information on services, while the second phase would provide a base for online transactional services.
"The production site contains content regarding 4 600 services offered by government. The launch of the portal will coincide with the development team reaching the required target for data verification," the Minister says.
Headings in the site are supposed to be intuitive. At the top of the page are headings titled "Services for People", "Services for Organisations", and "Services for Foreigners" and a search function.
On the left hand side of the page are various headings such as "Giving birth and caring for a baby", and "Politics and Citizenry". These headings have various other sub-headings that take the user to information on related legislation.
Each page is subdivided into standard components that include the legislation, a link to relevant official forms and information on the costs involved for various applications. There are also links to government news sites and other state organisations such as the SA Police Service.
Minister Frasier-Moleketi says additional service points benefiting from the central portal would be available in 55 sites across the country provided by the South African Post Office through Citizen Post Offices, Public Information Terminals and Internet Cafes.
She also says that people will be able to access information from the portal, through the 1020 telephone number.
Quelle: ITWeb, 17.02.2004
