The Department of Transport (DOT) is providing the government of Namibia with access to the updated electronic National Traffic Information System (eNatis) technology.
Minister Sibusiso Ndebele yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement with Namibian transport minister Erkki Nghimtina.
The DOT says the purpose of this is to enable Namibia to administer and maintain its national vehicle and driver register by means of the National Traffic Information System.
It adds that the agreement will give the Namibian government access to current and future application software to administer and maintain its vehicle and driver register via eNatis. Namibia implemented eNatis in 1998 but now wants to upgrade to SA's current version.
Regional harmony
Ndebele said the move is in line with SA's foreign social and economic agenda where regional integration by Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states tops the list.
“This approach follows from the belief in the economic benefits that can be brought to all member states by closer economic cooperation in the region.”
He added that the DOT undertook to make available eNatis to all the member states of the SADC region, in order to have a harmonised system that can be used within the region, and is able to link with each other to deal with road traffic related information within the region.
Difficult upgrade
Meetings were held with the Namibian government and the DOT regarding the working process of the current system and the training process.
Ndebele said training manuals were provided to users of the system.
“The operational differences of the systems operational in Namibia and the current eNatis system were identified, wherein it was highlighted that it would be easier to implement the current system rather than upgrading the previous system that is operational in Namibia.”
System security
As part of the agreement, the Namibian DOT can not sell any of the systems process and configuration to any entity without obtaining approval from the local department.
“The Namibian Department of Transport shall conduct a security audit at least twice every year, or if required by the South African Department of Transport where there is a possible breach of security, and the security audit shall be conducted according to internationally accepted best practices, approved by the Information Security Framework, and one audit, which shall include officials from the South African government,” said Ndebele.
Democratic Alliance shadow minister of transport Stuart Farrow says security of SA's information on the database is not a great concern.
“The cost and maintenance of the eNatis system is very high and that's my worry,” adds Farrow.
He says there is great benefit in sharing the technology with the SADC region because drivers won't have to get international licences when going to the different countries.
However, he says a few years back, when the old eNatis system was being migrated to the new one, the budget for the process was exceeded by over R100 million.
“The costs still continue, because the system has not been handed over fully to the department, but is still being run by consultants.”
He explains that the contract was handed to controversial businessman Shabir Shaik. “I'm wondering who's going to be the service provider for Namibia and we must ensure that the cost of that is not going to fall on us.”
Ndebele said the DOT in SA will provide all the technical support required for the smooth migration of the Namibian eNatis system, wherein all the costs associated with the support will be borne by the Namibian DOT.
He also said the service provider appointed to manage the operation of the Namibian eNatis system must be approved only with the concurrence of SA's DOT.
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