DOC underspends R350m on ICT

The Department of Communications (DOC) has underspent more than R350 million on ICT since the 2000/1 financial year.

The majority of this is due to the proposed 112 emergency call centre.

Responding to a question in the National Assembly, communications minister Dina Pule said the ICT Infrastructure Development Programme came into effect in the 2000/1 financial year. “This programme's final allocation amounted to R938.7 million since 2000/1 to 2011/12.”

The programme's expenditure for the past 12 years amounted to R586.36 million. The under-spending amounted to R352.34 million.

Pule added that the under-spending occurred mainly during the 2004/5, 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12 financial years.

In 2004/5, the underspend was due to the “finalisation of a restructuring process at the end of the financial year, which led to the amendment of the department's organisational structure in order to align its units with the defined vision and mission”.

In 2009/10, it was due to the 112 centre, since there was a delay experienced in the public private partnership process to convert it from pilot to the national emergency number.

Pule also said a contract in relation to the monitoring of 2010 Fifa World Cup project which was still in progress by then also added to the underspend.

Under-spending in 2010/11 was also due to the 112 emergency call centre, as it was put on hold due to the reprioritisation exercise.

The call centre was again the main reason for under-spending in the 2011/12 financial year. However, under-spending on broadband also played a large role, according to the minister.

The non-implementation of the 112 emergency call centre, arising from the cost benefit analysis and the feasibility study, which was conducted by National Treasury in providing approval on the project feasibility, led to the under-spending.

“The under-spending on broadband allocation was due to the development of a broadband strategy and plan, which is currently being finalised by the department,” said Pule.

The DOC in April requested proposals from service providers for the 112 public emergency centres. The pilot call centre reportedly cost R80 million, and was stuck in pilot mode for more than four years.

Currently, the recognised public emergency numbers in SA are 10111, 10177 and 112 for mobile phones.