The Gauteng\u00a0government says is taking urgent steps to modernise the public service and boost its re-industrialisation efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis modernisation offers opportunities to improve efficiency and access to public services; develop the transparency and accountability of government, and empower citizens to better participate in the decision-making,\u201d said Gauteng MEC for Finance Barbara Creecy.<\/p>\n
In line with this, E-Gov will use its budget of R1.3 billion this financial year to do the following:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Provide access to broadband to 3,000 government sites in the province through the Gauteng Broadband Network;
\n\u2022 To create an enabling platform and provide support services to all provincial entities in the design, development and delivery of e-services;
\n\u2022 To establish the appropriate governance structures in the province to drive ICT priorities, policies, standards and regulations;
\n\u2022 To promote the usage of e-Government services by employees, business and citizens in the province;
\n\u2022 To stimulate the ICT economy through skills development for young work seekers, investment in innovation and incubation of emerging entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n
As part of the broader plan to protect the provincial government against increasing threats of cyber-attacks, the department has also launched its own Government Security Operation Centre (GSOC) located at 75 Fox street.<\/p>\n
This facility is responsible for the continuous monitoring of the GPG ICT environment, including at schools, hospitals and other facilities to prevent such attacks from interrupting the services offered to our citizens.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the previous financial over 32 billion ICT interactions were processed. A total of 125 million of these interactions were analyzed as potential security threats to our provincial ICT environment. In total, 5700 security threats were confirmed and all these threats were eliminated,\u201d Creecy said.<\/p>\n
In order to give impetus to the Department of Education\u2019s smart schools initiative, the department will connect 782 schools to the GBN in this financial year.<\/p>\n
As part of the GBN roll out plan, the department has implemented the Voice-Over-IP in 38 government buildings in an effort to reduce the cost of making phone calls in the provincial government.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn E-Gov the cost for telephony has been reduced from R370 000 in March to R241 000 in May this year. This is a saving of R130 000. We aim to connect a further 375 sites to VOIP in this financial year,\u201d Creecy said.<\/p>\n
The department said it is fully committed to increase its contribution to the development of young people in the province.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking with the Tshepo 1 Million team in the Office of the Premier, and with private sector partners including Microsoft, SAP, Performanta, Vodacom, FNB, Accenture, Dell, IBM and the Department aims to assist approximately 110 000 young people to participate in training, work experience, internship and employment opportunities and programmes over the next year,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
E-Gov last year procured 52% of goods and services below R500 000 from township enterprises. The department also paid 99% of service providers within 30 days; 95% of which were paid within 15 days.<\/p>\n
The government said the following services will be on line for citizens in 2017\/18:<\/p>\n
\u2022 The Ntirhisano Tracking system for the Office of the Premier
\n\u2022 A Military Veterans\u2019 Database for the Office of the Premier
\n\u2022 A Foster Care Monitoring for the Department of Social Development
\n\u2022 A Bed Reservation System for the Department of Social Development
\n\u2022 A Mobile e-Recruitment for the Department of e-Government
\n\u2022 A Queue Management System for the Department of e-Government
\n\u2022 A Conservation Permit System for the Department of GDARD<\/p>\n