The Auditor-General of SA (AGSA) will embark on a project to either replace or upgrade all existing IT systems.
Despite having insufficient funds available and struggling for money over the years, auditor-general Terence Nombembe emphasises the upgrades are necessary and money spent on the projects will improve efficiency.
The AGSA says the project would run into the millions, but declined to reveal what the final figure is expected to be. Funding will be taken from budget allocations made to the AGSA's information systems projects, and its special and strategic initiatives.
However, both units only received total allocations of R397 000 for the 2009/10 financial year. The AGSA, which works on a self-funding model, says it is set to receive R1.2 million in payments from departments and some of the money will be allocated to the ICT upgrade project.
Several critical technologies have already been identified and the project will be carried over several years, with the pace of implementation relying on the availability of funding, AGSA notes.
“The AG needs to be smarter by considering the potential investment versus cost of upgrading technology to meet all the short- to long-term needs,” Nombembe says.
He adds that the entity had implemented an ICT governance framework in 2008, and this would allow it to manage investments and ensure any new tools and technology provided value for money.
Money woes
The AGSA previously announced it would increase the rate it charges government departments for audit work, as it was failing to recover costs. The office audits 866 government entities and invoices departments R800 an hour. Rates would be increased by R700, to R1 500 an hour, but collecting payments from government departments would continue to be a problem, the AGSA admits.
The entity works on self-funding model and previously sought additional funding from Parliament, which was not granted. Nombembe defended the turn to ICT, saying new solutions would provide the best value for whatever money was spent. The AGSA added that it had conducted in-depth research and testing, and the replacement programmes would continue.
“Most of the ICT projects initiated or completed during the year have either already resulted in cost savings or have positioned the organisation for future savings. Savings are also expected from several other ICT initiatives,” says the AGSA.
Phased approach
Nombembe admits the unit is lagging behind other IT systems in government and has to find ways to try and catch up. Technologies are becoming so advanced and the office is struggling to ensure its systems are aligned with external technologies and expertise, he comments.
The AGSA says its IT project would begin with the developing and implementation of enterprise architecture for the organisation. Virtualisation is also one of the technologies identified by the AGSA for the upgrade and would be implemented in a phased approach.
The Gauteng office is already equipped with virtual servers and preparations are being made to replace a number of standalone servers with virtualised server architecture, the AGSA says.
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