Cape Town has been praised for its IT innovation by minister of communications, Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, and according to Dr Raven Naidoo, chairman of ICT consultancy firm, Radian, other cities should follow the city`s example.
Matsepe-Casaburri, in an address at the Nedlac ICT forum meeting in January, said: "The City of Cape Town has positioned itself to become one of our most technologically advanced cities. After implementing its visionary transformation strategy, it is now a frontrunner in SA`s national IT strategy."
According to Naidoo, huge shifts have occurred in SA and the progress made is admirable, but the country has a long way to go before reaching the desired outcome.
"We have made much progress in expanding the reach of service delivery, providing houses and infrastructure, drawing all communities into the economy and generally redressing the inequalities of the past, but much remains to be done," says Naidoo.
Dr Naidoo will address the Technology in Local Government Conference, titled "Smart cities - the future of municipalities". Hosted by ITWeb on 20 and 21 June at Gallagher Estate, Midrand, the conference will focus on improving service delivery though technology.
Information, knowledge key
Naidoo says information and knowledge play key roles in the way the economies are organised, businesses operate and how people work.
Local authorities need ICT to communicate between offices and staff, to enable effective collection of revenue due to them, to service citizens equitably in all areas and to improve customer relations, says Dr Naidoo.
"Cape Town has developed e-government services, all city employees have access to mainstream banking giving low-income employees a measure of economic empowerment and it has instituted the largest IT training programme, boosting IT skills by training thousands of employees," adds Naidoo.
Accenture`s senior executive Donavan Muller, who will address the conference on "ICT as a key enabler of local government transformation", shares Naidoo`s sentiments.
The key principles that drive the transformation of ICT in local government include clear strategies, organisational structure and business processes, Muller explains.
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