The Gauteng Treasury will develop and implement “innovative” ICT solutions to improve its efficiency and service delivery across all provincial departments.
In his budget vote speech, finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe said the department would develop an internal IT strategy, and establish an IT steering committee to oversee the implementation of the IT strategy.
Nkomfe said the department remained committed to transparent and efficient management of public funds. Echoing statements made by Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane, Nkomfe said the department would focus on improving efficiency, speed and quality of service. Mokonyane, in her state of the province address, encouraged MECs to focus more on cutting the cost of doing business and prevent any wasteful expenditure.
“We will focus on building an effective and caring government by ensuring that spending agencies create value for money at both provincial and municipal level,” Nkomfe said.
The total budget for the 2009/10 financial year for the Gauteng Treasury is R212.896 million. The administration programme was allocated R41.7 million. The total allocation to the sustainable resource management programme, which includes budget management initiatives, is R135.1 million. The total allocation to the financial governance programme, which is tasked with the roll out of the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) is R36 million.
Improving systems
Nkomfe also noted the department will continue with the development of the provincial budget database and data warehouse system in the 2009/10 financial year. More needs to be done to ensure the availability of high-level budget data integrity, he said. The initiatives will form part of the budget management programme, which aims to optimise resource allocation.
He added that the Financial Systems Unit will implement and roll out the IFMS in the province. The system is an initiative led by the National Treasury, which upgrades government's transverse IT systems. The objective is to enhance the integrity and effectiveness of financial management and performance reporting to improve service delivery.
A review is being conducted of the province's departments and entities of the Gauteng Fund to streamline, integrate and improve efficiencies, Nkomfe said. The fund is tasked with infrastructure development and finding alternative sources of financing strategic projects in the province - including key initiatives such as the Gauteng Link.
“The Gauteng Treasury has a responsibility of ensuring the financial resources of the province are utilised towards achieving its priorities and objectives. We will be working towards strengthening the developmental state while ensuring compliance to all financial management and accounting policies, regulations, guidelines,” he said.
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