Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
The Government Website, Gvernment Online, will officially be launched in Pretoria on 28 January 1999 by the Government Communication and Information System. One of the objectives of the South African Government is to operate as an integrated entity with a single corporate identity. Through the development of a comprehensive Government Home Page, a mechanism is being created by which the information of government departments, provinces and other government bodies can be accessed from a one-stop gateway thereby ensuring that government's image in cyberspace is seamless and transparent. Dissemination of information by means of the Internet will contribute towards the objective of government communications as an integrated entity and will also facilitate quick navigation and avoid duplication of government information on the Internet.
The development of the Government Website is in accordance with the recommendations of the Comtask Report which was adopted by Cabinet on 8 October 1996.
Government Online will provide and maintain links to Internet pages of government departments, provinces and other government bodies. It will publish information as it is delivered (where it is not the direct line-functional responsibility of any government departments; when it will enhance accessibility or when government bodies do not yet have their own web-sites. Futhermore, it will provide value-added features such as a search engine; maximum access points to government information; feedback opportunity and the functionality to request additional government communication. Information currently covered includes:
- Organisational information - Government documents and publications - Speeches and press releases by government role-players - Government Tender Bulletin - Provincial and local government information - Information on South Africa - Links to a wide range of relevant web-sites covering topical issues, including South African news sources.
The Government Web-Site can be found at http://www.gov.za Further information regarding the website may be obtained from: Tilde Eloff. Tel. (012) 314 2138. e-mail: tilde@gcis.gov.za Hilda Korsten. (012) 314 2140 e-mail: hilda@gcis.gov.za
Media queries may be directed to: Faizal Dawjee: Tel. (012) 314 2133 Petra Wiese: Tel. (012) 314 2452.
Issued by the Government Communication and Information Sytem
19 January 1999