Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has criticised inefficiencies at the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), blaming the agency for hindering progress across government and dragging on its ambitions to become a modern, digital department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Delivering an address to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) this week, Schreiber said that SITA is a “critical obstacle on our journey towards digital transformation.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“SITA is an artificial construct that stands squarely in the way of technological progress, not only at Home Affairs, but across government,” said Schreiber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to its website, SITA was established in 1999 “to consolidate and coordinate the State\u2019s information technology resources in order to achieve cost savings through scale, increase delivery capabilities and enhance interoperability. “<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As per the SITA Act, the agency\u2019s mandate is to improve service delivery to South African residents and citizens by providing information technology, information systems, and related services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also stipulates that this must be done in a maintained system information security environment for government departments and public bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Schreiber said that Home Affairs had identified its primary goal as digitally transforming this department, as encapsulated in its vision statement to deliver Home Affairs @ home, but SITA was standing in the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n