In a multimillion-rand agreement, AST Distributed Technology Services (DTS) and a consortium have been awarded the contract for network deployment, support and maintenance for the Department of Justice.
AST DTS will deploy hardware and migration of Windows 2000 and MS Office 2000 throughout 550 courts in SA. The upgrading and implementation of the IT infrastructure will be conducted in four phases over a two-year period.
The upgrading and implementation of the new infrastructure will enhance the ability of the courts in urban and rural areas across the country to share case information, to access and exchange legal research and to communicate more effectively with relevant role-players and the legal community in general.
"The Department of Justice currently faces the challenge of accuracy in financial administration and reporting, and case backlogs, hence the contract to put systems in place is the first step to resolving this situation," explains Leon Mbangwa, e-Justice Communications Project Leader. "In addition, AST will train the department`s IT staff, empowering them to deliver the standard of service required by the department."
"As the only member of the Microsoft Exchange 2000 joint development programme in Africa, AST already has a proven track record in implementing Windows 2000," explains Gerhard Lange, Director of Services at AST DTS. "The department will benefit from AST`s extensive expertise in implementing this type of system."
AST has more than 60 service centres across the nation and is ideally positioned to deliver projects of this nature.
Thuso IT and Naledi, members of the consortium, are also two of AST`s BEE IT partners. This contract is another in a number of important successes between the parties.
"We are proud of our relationship with our BEE partners as they have their own capacity to add value to the projects," adds Lange. "As a result of our black economic empowerment programme, AST has been successful in a number of Government contracts, as we involve our empowerment partners in all aspects of business so that they can develop their people and managerial prowess in true empowerment.
"Through this project, our BEE partners will be exposed to the IT infrastructure business and AST will transfer skills and knowledge to allow them to undertake a project of this magnitude independently in the future," concludes Lange.
The other members of the AST consortium are Tactical Software Systems, Computer Sciences Corporation and I-Fusion.
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In just three years the AST Group has established itself as one of the leading information and communication technology companies on the JSE Securities Exchange. Its consistent creation of value for shareholders, clients and employees has resulted in a steady increase in monthly revenue to the R100 million plus mark.
AST is now the fourth largest South African IT company by market capitalisation, and is one of the top three in terms of physical infrastructure (mainframes, servers, desktops, and networks under management) and geographical footprint with over 62 physical locations. Counting almost 90% of the top 100 JSE-listed companies among its clients, the AST Group services mostly large corporate and government clients, but is increasingly offering services to rapidly evolving small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Department of Justice
The Vision of the Department of Justice is to transform and rationalise the administration of justice into a legitimate system that gives effect to the basic constitutional and the ideals and the goals enshrined in the RDP.
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