The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs will implement a citizen-centred, integrated ICT system, as part of its turnaround strategy.
Local government minister Sicelo Shiceka says the strategy would integrate ICT systems and platforms across municipalities for standardisation, collaboration and to maximise service delivery.
The department recently initiated the “Local Government Turnaround Strategy”, in an effort to improve service delivery, increase efficiency, accountability and responsiveness within municipalities.
Cabinet approved the local government turnaround strategy in November. The department says the plan will be incorporated into municipalities' integrated development plans and budgets by March. All municipalities are expected to begin implementing their individual plans in June.
Following several international visits to learn from successful e-government implementations, Shiceka says the department will focus on leveraging ICT to increase efficiency in municipalities and improve service delivery.
“Taking into account the lessons we are learning, I strongly believe that, in SA, the cellphones and other channels that take into consideration the peculiar socioeconomic and developmental challenges of the country, would make better sense,” says Shiceka.
Shiceka adds that the project aims to create an e-government strategy, which integrates with national initiatives, while developing accessible, simplified ICT systems.
The department comments that the turnaround strategy would involve other government agencies, such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the South African Local Government Association.
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