The Department of Labour (DOL) has appointed Thabo Sefali as its new CIO.
Sefali has already started in his new position. The department says he joins it at a time when it is in the throes of “an exit plan from a 10-year billion-rand public private partnership (PPP) with Siemens”. It adds that Sefali will drive the post-PPP ICT strategy.
“Sefali will be responsible for all ICT-related functions, as well as playing a role in developing and the execution of the DOL's new ICT strategy.”
The new CIO says the strategy is in the final leg of drafting and will be unveiled at the end of this month for approval.
IT fixation
Sefali started his journey into IT in 1995, when he registered for a computer programming course at WS & L Training College, in Cape Town.
He says he became fixated with IT during his involvement in youth development organisations, and also realised how technology could be used for social development and advancement.
retail group Woolworths as an analyst programmer and left as IT process manager.
He then joined the public sector where he worked as IT operations manager in the Department of Water Affairs until 2008. He later branched into rural development and land reform where he was appointed as IT director.
Paperless entity
In February, the IT contract between Siemens and the department - to deliver IT systems - was put under investigation due to non-delivery, among other issues.
At a committee meeting in March, the DOL said it would not renew its contract with Siemens to deliver its IT systems, and will negotiate an early termination of the contract for October 2011.
The department now says the Siemens PPP will end in November this year. The service transfer handover process is planned to begin in September.
The initial contract was valued at R1.2 billion, over a 10-year period. At its conclusion, in November, it would have shot up to R1.9 billion, factoring in the consumer price index and expenditure on additional services.
“In the short-term, the focus is to ensure the stability of the organisation and a smooth transition until the end of the contract into a new integrated ICT strategy. We do not have a choice. The contract is coming to an end, and we need a strategy to map our future,” says Sefali.
“Post the exit strategy, we intend to become a vibrant ICT organisation that has an internal capacity, something that we missed with the PPP. Where necessary, we will have resort to multiple sourcing options to beef up capacity. We are looking at modernising the organisation into a paperless entity that would contribute to green initiatives, while ensuring that our services are accessible to the public through various platforms including online, mobile, advanced contact centres and other possible channels through partnering with industry.”
Hybrid solution
Last week, the department announced it had opted for a hybrid approach in implementing the new ICT model as it winds up the PPP with Siemens.
This approach includes retaining all current staff, invoking the concession option, and/or issuing service requests to the industry as required.
The department emphasises that it has intentions to establish and use internal capacity going forward, and outsourcing will be considered where necessary.
Sefali says the future ICT operating model will have to improve the operational efficiency of the DOL, including its public entities such as the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Compensation Fund.
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