The adoption and use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by the public sector in South Africa has been poor with innovation, particularly with the services sector being at the bottom side of global rankings.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) in its various oversight initiatives and service delivery inspections, has noted with concern the challenges experienced with ICT support and the negative impact on service delivery for the citizens. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the disparities and inefficiencies in the ICT systems used in government.
The deployment of various ICT systems by government has the potential to transform the public sector service delivery and enable better accountability in public bureaucracies.[1] These ICT systems have the potential to transform the relationship between government and citizens.[2] It is, therefore, crucial to address the ageing and inadequate infrastructure to facilitate equal access for all, governance structures and institutional arrangements (legislative frameworks) including the capacity within the departments and funding for the digital transformation of the State.
It is against this background that the PSC will host a Roundtable on Wednesday, 30 November 2022 on Government Support with a particular focus on ICT for Service Delivery. The Roundtable will focus on understanding the nature and extent of the challenges experienced with ICT by the different stakeholders, the impact of these challenges on service delivery and areas where interventions (solutions) have been implemented to address these challenges.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technology, Mr B Maleni will deliver an address to set the scene and share his message of support and commitment. The Acting Minister of Public Service and Administration, Mr Thulas Nxesi’s address will focus on the role of ICT in Public Service Delivery and enhancing the Citizen Experience.
A programme outlining key activities and participants on the day is attached for information.
Source: Government of South Africa