A consortium consisting of the AST Group, Thuso IT and Mahube has won a tender worth R8 million per annum to provide IT support services resources to the Department of Home Affairs.
In addition to the acquisition of skills, the objectives set by the Department of Home Affairs in the tender include improved service levels to users, reduced costs, finding innovative ways of service delivery and improved stakeholder communication.
The services involved will remain under the management of the Department and include infrastructure management of the client server, desktop and network environments, which extend to several border posts and embassies in more than 20 countries. Legacy system maintenance, on-site helpdesk, consulting, training and installation services will also be provided.
"We believe that we were selected because of our excellent record as a client-centric service provider," says Johnny Billson, MD of AST Abraxas IT Solutions. "The consortium`s ability to provide the full spectrum of services from its large pool of resources, AST`s geographic spread of more than 60 offices and service centres country wide and its proven skills-transfer model were probably important considerations."
Mahube is addressing the future direction of the department`s vital movement control system. It also provides end-user training and will do such recruitment as may be necessary.
"We are pleased to play our part in the consortium as agents for transformation," said Arnold Phasha of Mahube Information Solutions. "We are confident that our skills development and change management programmes will add significant value to the department."
"This transaction will be used to further build the capacity of Thuso IT, particularly in the negotiation and management of substantial IT service contracts that involve service level agreements," adds Lawrence Magobotla, MD of Thuso IT. "It also reaffirms the confidence that the parastatals have in this consortium`s skills and expertise." The AST-Thuso consortium also won the Government Employees Pension Fund`s tender for IT outsourcing and for the design and implementation of a Pension Fund Administration Solution.
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In just three years the AST Group has established itself as one of the leading information and communication technology companies on the JSE Securities Exchange. Its consistent creation of value for shareholders, clients and employees has resulted in a steady increase in monthly revenue to the R100 million plus mark.
AST is now the fourth largest South African IT company by market capitalisation, and is one of the top three in terms of physical infrastructure (mainframes, servers, desktops, and networks under management) and geographical footprint with over 62 physical locations.
Counting almost 90% of the top 100 JSE-listed companies among its clients, the AST Group services mostly large corporate and government clients, but is increasingly offering services to rapidly evolving small and medium enterprises.
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