Date: 08/06/2005
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Shilowa: Launch of Gauteng Portal, Gauteng Online
Address by Premier Mbhazima Shilowa at the launch of the Gauteng Portal, Gauteng Online
Members of the Executive Council
Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Duma Nkosi
Members of the Mayoral Committee
Heads of Departments and other Gauteng
government officials
Ladies and Gentlemen
Today’s launch of Gauteng Online, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) internet portal, represents a giant step towards the realisation of our vision in which all the people of the province have easy and free access to government information and services through the internet.
Four years ago, on 14 June 2001, we launched the Gauteng Online initiative to roll out computers with email and internet access to public schools. The purpose was to enable the young learners of our province, regardless of their socio-economic background, to jump onto the information superhighway and to have access to a world of knowledge and information that would empower them and help them reach their full potential. Since then we have rolled out computers in over 1000 schools.
Today we are launching yet another initiative which gives expression to the description of Gauteng as the smart province and which results from our commitment and ability to ensure that we harness the information and communication technology (ICT) revolution, not for the benefit of a few but in the interest of all the people of Gauteng.
As a people-centred government we are continuously interacting with the people of the province and seeking ways to better serve their needs.
In our daily interaction with residents across Gauteng we are aware that, while we have made tremendous strides in responding to the needs of our people through the provision of a range of services, there is still a gap between government and the people. We are aware that too many residents don’t know where to go to find out basic information about government or how to access certain services and opportunities. For example, at the Provincial Women’s Dialogue in March, women recognised a greater commitment to their economic empowerment but expressed the need to know more about how to tender for government contracts. Residents at times experience frustration in that they encounter problems and are not sure where to turn for assistance or information.
We know that in the past, people had to stand in long queues just to get an application form to apply for a social grant, or make many phone calls to find out the location of the nearest public health facility providing anti-retroviral therapy. An entrepreneur would need to come all the way to town to apply for a liquor license. A person wanting to make a booking for a learners or drivers license test would have to travel all the way from home to a driving license testing station and then stand in a queue before they would eventually be able to make a booking.
The Gauteng Online portal is designed to change this. At its simplest, the portal, which will from today be accessible to any person who has access to the internet, will give users access to government information and certain online services. It forms part of our objective of building an effective and caring government and will go a long way towards making life easier for citizens and institutions who want to access government, since they will now be able to access the information they require or, for example, apply for a liquor licence or make a booking for a learner’s license. Gauteng Online will therefore help improve service delivery, make government more efficient and improve people’s experience of and interaction with government and certain government services.
The portal forms part of our vision of e-government to enhance the relationship between citizens, businesses, governments, and employees through integrated, effective e-government applications and services. This e-government vision is inspired by the Batho Pele service delivery principles, in particular, to increase access to services, provide more and better information, ensure courtesy to the public, increase openness and transparency and get best value for money.
The e-government strategy is further informed by the following principles:
* prioritising those most in need, particularly in those areas which have been neglected,
marginalised and under-developed in the past.
* Increased convenience, so that citizens and institutions should increasingly have the convenience of deciding when and where to access public services
* Choice, so that citizens and institutions have the choice of more and better quality services and the choice of various methods to access these services
* Control, so that citizens and institutions have control in determining how, when and where to interact with government to access a service of their choosing.
* Effective access to service and ongoing improvement in the quality of service and access to services for all citizens and institutions.
In realising these principles, Gauteng Online is complemented by a number of other channels to access and contact government, including through telephonic and face to face interaction.
The GPG-wide call centre was established in February 2004 and will continue to provide assistance and information to members of the public, particularly those who are unable to access the internet. Face to face interaction will be provided through a range of government offices as well as the Multi-Purpose Community Centres (MPCCs) which are being established throughout the province. In addition, access to the portal will also be available through telecentres and digital villages at MPCCs such as the one here in Tembisa, as well as through public libraries.
We have chosen Tembisa to launch the portal as the residents here will be able to have easy access through the local MPCC. We urge you to use it and work with government to also protect the facilities on offer here as they are here for the community.
The benefits of the portal and e-governance will be further made available to communities through our Community Development Workers (CDWs), 200 of whom are already deployed across Gauteng to assist residents and help improve service delivery. The CDWs will in the future be able to use cellphones and laptops to access the portal and provide residents with the necessary information and e-services.
Learners will also be able to use the Gauteng Online computer laboratories in our schools and eventually we hope to reach a stage where communities will also have access to these facilities in every community. Many other residents will be able to access Gauteng Online through computers at work and a growing number of private initiatives that provide online access through internet cafes and the like.
Today marks the culmination of the first phase (phase 0) of the portal development which primarily focuses on the provision of information as well as some e-services such as driver’s license bookings and e-recruitment for job applications. The next phase, phase 1, will focus on further education, transport, health and agricultural e-services, while phases 2 and 3 will take the services a step further to enable online applications for certain services and finally, direct transactions with government.
While we have not yet arrived at our destination, we are confident that we are on the right road to effective and accessible e-governance which will bring the people of the province closer to government and improve their lives.
I now declare GautengOnline online for all.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
8 June 2005
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Shilowa: Launch of Gauteng Portal, Gauteng Online
Address by Premier Mbhazima Shilowa at the launch of the Gauteng Portal, Gauteng Online
Members of the Executive Council
Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Duma Nkosi
Members of the Mayoral Committee
Heads of Departments and other Gauteng
government officials
Ladies and Gentlemen
Today’s launch of Gauteng Online, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) internet portal, represents a giant step towards the realisation of our vision in which all the people of the province have easy and free access to government information and services through the internet.
Four years ago, on 14 June 2001, we launched the Gauteng Online initiative to roll out computers with email and internet access to public schools. The purpose was to enable the young learners of our province, regardless of their socio-economic background, to jump onto the information superhighway and to have access to a world of knowledge and information that would empower them and help them reach their full potential. Since then we have rolled out computers in over 1000 schools.
Today we are launching yet another initiative which gives expression to the description of Gauteng as the smart province and which results from our commitment and ability to ensure that we harness the information and communication technology (ICT) revolution, not for the benefit of a few but in the interest of all the people of Gauteng.
As a people-centred government we are continuously interacting with the people of the province and seeking ways to better serve their needs.
In our daily interaction with residents across Gauteng we are aware that, while we have made tremendous strides in responding to the needs of our people through the provision of a range of services, there is still a gap between government and the people. We are aware that too many residents don’t know where to go to find out basic information about government or how to access certain services and opportunities. For example, at the Provincial Women’s Dialogue in March, women recognised a greater commitment to their economic empowerment but expressed the need to know more about how to tender for government contracts. Residents at times experience frustration in that they encounter problems and are not sure where to turn for assistance or information.
We know that in the past, people had to stand in long queues just to get an application form to apply for a social grant, or make many phone calls to find out the location of the nearest public health facility providing anti-retroviral therapy. An entrepreneur would need to come all the way to town to apply for a liquor license. A person wanting to make a booking for a learners or drivers license test would have to travel all the way from home to a driving license testing station and then stand in a queue before they would eventually be able to make a booking.
The Gauteng Online portal is designed to change this. At its simplest, the portal, which will from today be accessible to any person who has access to the internet, will give users access to government information and certain online services. It forms part of our objective of building an effective and caring government and will go a long way towards making life easier for citizens and institutions who want to access government, since they will now be able to access the information they require or, for example, apply for a liquor licence or make a booking for a learner’s license. Gauteng Online will therefore help improve service delivery, make government more efficient and improve people’s experience of and interaction with government and certain government services.
The portal forms part of our vision of e-government to enhance the relationship between citizens, businesses, governments, and employees through integrated, effective e-government applications and services. This e-government vision is inspired by the Batho Pele service delivery principles, in particular, to increase access to services, provide more and better information, ensure courtesy to the public, increase openness and transparency and get best value for money.
The e-government strategy is further informed by the following principles:
* prioritising those most in need, particularly in those areas which have been neglected,
marginalised and under-developed in the past.
* Increased convenience, so that citizens and institutions should increasingly have the convenience of deciding when and where to access public services
* Choice, so that citizens and institutions have the choice of more and better quality services and the choice of various methods to access these services
* Control, so that citizens and institutions have control in determining how, when and where to interact with government to access a service of their choosing.
* Effective access to service and ongoing improvement in the quality of service and access to services for all citizens and institutions.
In realising these principles, Gauteng Online is complemented by a number of other channels to access and contact government, including through telephonic and face to face interaction.
The GPG-wide call centre was established in February 2004 and will continue to provide assistance and information to members of the public, particularly those who are unable to access the internet. Face to face interaction will be provided through a range of government offices as well as the Multi-Purpose Community Centres (MPCCs) which are being established throughout the province. In addition, access to the portal will also be available through telecentres and digital villages at MPCCs such as the one here in Tembisa, as well as through public libraries.
We have chosen Tembisa to launch the portal as the residents here will be able to have easy access through the local MPCC. We urge you to use it and work with government to also protect the facilities on offer here as they are here for the community.
The benefits of the portal and e-governance will be further made available to communities through our Community Development Workers (CDWs), 200 of whom are already deployed across Gauteng to assist residents and help improve service delivery. The CDWs will in the future be able to use cellphones and laptops to access the portal and provide residents with the necessary information and e-services.
Learners will also be able to use the Gauteng Online computer laboratories in our schools and eventually we hope to reach a stage where communities will also have access to these facilities in every community. Many other residents will be able to access Gauteng Online through computers at work and a growing number of private initiatives that provide online access through internet cafes and the like.
Today marks the culmination of the first phase (phase 0) of the portal development which primarily focuses on the provision of information as well as some e-services such as driver’s license bookings and e-recruitment for job applications. The next phase, phase 1, will focus on further education, transport, health and agricultural e-services, while phases 2 and 3 will take the services a step further to enable online applications for certain services and finally, direct transactions with government.
While we have not yet arrived at our destination, we are confident that we are on the right road to effective and accessible e-governance which will bring the people of the province closer to government and improve their lives.
I now declare GautengOnline online for all.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
8 June 2005
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