The Greater Pretoria Metropolitan Council has implemented a first for South Africa - a computerised system which allows Pretoria residents to play `Big Brother` and monitor the implementation of its Infrastructure Development Programme (IDP)
Chief Planner for Metropolitan Guideline Planning, Amund Beneke, says this transparency, agreed on during a forum with residents, and implemented by Datacentrix, includes networking to 19 planning zone offices.
The model provides for an intra- and internet-based solution, which allows global access to the IDP, its master plans and projects conducted by the GPMC.
The Datacentrix system is network-driven and uses off-the-shelf-software. The Information Technology (IT) component is essential, says the IT Section of the GPMC, who took responsibility for the provision of the necessary IT infrastructure and software.
The network stretches its tentacles to 180 workstations, each housing a terminal with a direct Internet link to the GPMC. These terminals are available to residents to access the GPMC`s development plans.
Support and maintenance of the IT component of the system has also been outsourced to Datacentrix, who has placed an engineer permanently on site. "Controlling the total cost of ownership of the network is important in a public service," says Datacentrix senior account manager, Martinus Pretorius. "Ratepayers` money must be well spent, and by outsourcing the maintenance function, the GPMC is assured of maximum uptime, as well as improvements and upgrades within budget."
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