In light of recent media coverage regarding divisions within the ICT Charter Steering Committee and the break down of charter talks; ITA President, Adam Rabie, wished to place it on record that since his appointment, the Charter and transformation within the sector has remained an ITA priority.
He indicated that he has availed himself to get involved in order to understand the status, process and the progress in order to comfortably and with all honesty and sincerity represent the ITA membership, protecting their interests and providing feedback.
To date, he has raised the issue of who mandated the IT sector representatives on the Steering Committee, seeing an extensive timeframe has elapsed, and the process remains unfinished. People's roles change and the organisation/association positions are taken up by new/other people, thus the mandated individuals need to be reviewed and changed if required.
It has been insinuated that a meeting was held to review mandates, but despite numerous requests nobody has been able to provide any concrete details such as lists of attendees or minutes.
Further to this, it raises the question of whether or not appropriate and sufficient consultation has been done since the start of the harmonisation process.
He stressed that as a mandated representative of numerous IT companies, he can't in good conscience support something that is going to cost a lot more without the approval of the sector, and the sector not understanding the possible implications and consequences the ICT charter, in its current form, may have on their organisations. Transformation, and in particular, transforming the ICT sector, does have a cost attached to it. That cost does not need to result in IT companies potentially closing their doors or have consequences of people losing their jobs.
Rabie acknowledges that the work must continue and that we do need to retain as much continuity of the committee as possible. What is equally important is that the representatives are correctly mandated parties representing the stakeholders in the ICT sector, if not so, we run the risk of the final recommendations being questioned by the stakeholders as to the validity of the process.
In spite of there being a public process called by DTI during the gazetting phase, why submit something you know is potentially not feasible and does not represent the views of all stakeholders? Rather spend additional time to iron out the kinks beforehand -getting it right.
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The Information Technology Association of South Africa (ITA)
The Information Technology Association (ITA) has been part of the South African technology industry since the 1930s and has undergone many transitions, but its core purpose is to serve and represent various companies concerned with the supply of information technology equipment, systems, software and services in the ICT industry. The ITA comprises a body of members actively participating in issues and events, which directly or indirectly affect business and need attention at national, international, governmental, NGO, parastatal and business level. One of the many functions of the ITA is lobbying and negotiating at government level on behalf of its members. The ITA works in close liaison with government, consumer and other specialist organisations. Through its close association with the ISETT SETA and Services SETA, the ITA promotes the maintenance of high standards of IT industry technical skills in accordance with international trends. The purpose of the ITA, as stated in its constitution, is to “represent and promote the interests of its members, which shall be employers active in the Information Technology Sector”.
The ITA stands at the threshold of a new era for the local ICT industry. This representative body, together with its membership and industry partners, is poised to play a crucial role in the growth and development of the sector, as well as serving as a credible, effective channel of communication between various stakeholders.
The Information Technology Association
PO Box 6697
Halfway House
1685
Phone: (011) 312 3040
Fax: (011) 312 2589
http://www.ita.org.za