Y2K CENTRE TO COORDINATE YEAR 2000 PROBLEM

Issued by: Ministry for Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcast.

10 March 1998

Government is to establish a Y2K (Year 2000) Center which ensure compliance, co-ordination and monitoring of private-sectore and public-sector initiatives with regard to the Millennium bug problem.

Addressing a joint meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Portfolio Committees of Public Service and Administration and of Communication, Y2K Centre head Mohammed Madhi said the centre would provide an overview of the situation for the country and highlight key risk areas.

The focal point of the Y2K Centre would be a national operations room which would gauge the state of readiness in the country. "We will also have a response centre to handle queries on the Year 2000 problem using, for example, a toll-free number and the Internet. The centre will also house a Test Centre which will avail resources for testing systems and applications for small and medium-sized businesses."

Madhi said the centre would promote efficiency in dealing with the problem by preventing duplication of effort and by making information available on a national Y2K database. Legislation preventing the sale of non-compliant products and certifying compliant vendors and suppliers would be drafted by the Centre. A 2000 Legal Desk would also be set up to investigate legal ramifications.

Madhi said one of the first actions of the Centre would be to adopt a standard definition of the Y2K compliance for South Africa. "We are looking at adopting a nationally acceptable definition of Y2K compliance and we are considering a version of the UK model since most companies already accept it."

Other activities to be handled by the Y2K Centre will include.

• Ensuring responsibility of compliance is shared between the private sector and government;
• Ensuring a co-ordinated approach with analysis and resolution;
• Monitoring progress and action plans on a national basis;
• Analysing and provide support to all stakeholders; and
• Completing an assessment of the impact of the Y2K problem could have in South Africa.

"The short time-frame we have to deal with this issue can only be overcome by fast-tracking the Centre's initiatives through co-operation with all stakeholders nationally. I want to urge all departments and organisations to establish contact with the Y2K Centre as soon as possible."

The Centre is located in the Department of Communications, Parioli Office Park, cnr Duncan and Park Street, Hatfield, Pretoria. Phone. (012) 427-8000/8228.

WORKING TOWARDS AN INFORMATION SOCIETY