World awaits the millennium bug`s next move

Johannesburg, 31 Jan 2000

Adrian Schofield, President of Information Industry South Africa and President of the ITA, says that the world seems ready to accuse the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry of over-hyping the Y2K problem.

"It is ironic that they have not congratulated the industry for delivering the solution on time," he says. "On a more serious note it is still too early to be complacent as the effects of errors related to date calculations would only begin to surface as the year progresses."

In South Africa the National Year 2000 Decision Support Centre (Y2K Centre) indicates that critical sectors and essential services are operating normally. Electric services to date are operating normally. Telecommunications utility Telkom says that no Y2K problems are evident to date.

Anticipated New Year congestion has caused delays in some areas and in relation to some international links. These delays were short-lived.

The South African Reserve Bank and Banking Council issued a statement, minutes after midnight, advising that all indications are that the South African financial system has made a smooth transition to the Year 2000. ATMs and credit card point of sale devices are reported to be functioning smoothly and there is no shortage of cash. Saswitch, a banking utility servicing customers to withdraw money from ATMs of other banks, is operating normally.

"Just because the computers are still operational does not mean the programs within them are operating correctly," Schofield warns. "We still have February 29th to pass, even if all accounting functions at the end of January are achieved without failure."

Schofield advises the public to check account balances and interest calculations very carefully over the next few months, particularly those from municipalities and small to medium businesses who may not have carried out appropriate Y2K remedial work on their computer systems.

The Department of Transportation has reported that all air traffic management facilities across the country including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London, and Bloemfontein have crossed into the Year 2000 without incident. Other transportation management services: Air Traffic Navigation Service (air traffic control), Portnet (Ports authority), and Transnet (Railroad transportation) reported no Y2K problems and systems appear to be operating normally.

No Y2K problems have been reported which affect key service delivery to health, water or government services. There have been power outages across the Northern suburbs of Pretoria, the country capital. These were not Y2K related. The problem has been resolved and power supply has been restored.

Key services such as the South African Broadcasting Corporation, South African Post Office report systems are operating normally.

Information Industry South Africa

Information Industry South Africa, an ICT umbrella body formed in October 1999, provides a coordinated forum for the industry to address issues of common interest and is an effective channel of communication with Government, particularly in relation to the issues of overlapping ICT related programmes and projects in the country. Another important development is the government`s new understanding of the value that ICT can contribute to improving the quality of life of the South African population.

Information technology specialists need to establish a forum where regional, national and international information networks and associations can meet, exchange ideas and formulate common policies.

Although the members have different interests, all share the need for a healthy ICT industry in South Africa. Information Industry South Africa will provide the facilities to give a more streamlined network to develop resources, exchange accurate information, and improve the understanding of the various issues in the ICT industry.

Information Industry South Africa also plans to attract international conferences to South Africa. This can only be successful if the industry co-operates on a large scale to establish an international class of trade exhibition for the information industry.

Member organisations of Information Industry South Africa:

The Black IT Forum (BITF)
The Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA)
The Electronic Commerce Association of South Africa (ECASA)
The Electronic Industries Federation (EIF)
The South African Value Added Networks Service Providers Association (SAVA)
The Local Office of the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP)
The IT Industry Training Board (ITIB)
The IT Association (ITA)
The IT Users Council (ITUC)
The National IT Forum (NITF) More about WITSA

WITSA is a consortium of 39 information technology (IT) industry associations from around the world. As the global voice of the IT industry, WITSA is dedicated to advocating policies to promote the industry`s growth and development and facilitating international trade and investment in IT products and services. WITSA strengthens national industry associations through the sharing of knowledge, experience, and critical information, providing members with vast network of contacts in nearly every geographical region of the world.

Founded in 1978 and originally known as the World Computing Services Industry Association, WITSA has increasingly assumed an active advocacy role in international public policy issues affecting the creation of a robust global information infrastructure.

WITSA was the first global high tech trade association to speak publicly on Y2K, urging national governments and international organisations to begin addressing the global implications of Y2K.

In 1998, WITSA organised a global Y2K summit which brought together industry and government leaders to begin addressing Y2K. WITSA has also been working with the World Bank to create and staff the International Y2K Co-operation Centre.

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