26 October 2000
Director of Ceremonies
Chair of the Portfolio Committee
Chairperson
Members of the SITA Board
Professor Manuel Castells, in a paper prepared for the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, in 1998 observed that:" social development today is determined by the ability to establish a synergistic interaction between technological inno vation and human values, leading to a new set of organisations and institutions that create positive feedback loops between productivity, flexibility, solidarity, safety, participation and accountability, in a new model of development that could be sociall y and environmentally sustainable" As SITA "takes wing", I hope that in its identified role, it will also facilitate a synergistic interaction between "technological innovation and human values". Today also happens to be Diwali, the festival of lights, where good reigned over evil. It may h ave been deliberate on the part of SITA to organise this event today to coincide with this festival. On a sad note, however, our thoughts and sincerest condolences are with the family of our late comrade, Parks Mankahlana, who passed away earlier today.
SITA Mandate:
According to its mandate, SITA serves as the information systems facility of the State, chiefly responsible for the management and execution of IT-related work for, and on behalf of Government.
In the light of this mandate SITA's "Whole-of-government" IT procurement policy recognises government as the biggest consumer of IT services and IT related goods in the South African market. Through this policy, it aims to ensure that Government receives v alue for money when dealing with IT procurement.
SITA therefore has an important role in the future of Public Service delivery in South Africa. In order to enable SITA to consolidate and co-ordinate the procurement of IT goods and services for government, all 33 departments and 9 provinces needs to be pa rt of the coalition. The SITA "Whole-of-government" IT procurement policy objectives include:
SITA plans to elevate Government's IT economic muscle to improve IT Procurement, as well as strengthen IT small and medium enterprises (SMMEs) and previously disadvantaged enterprises. This will naturally lead to the improvement of workforce diversity were SMMEs will compete for Government business on the basis of value for money.
It is important for us to remember that technology per se does not alone solve social problems. But the availability and use of information and communication technologies are a prerequisite for economic and social development in our world. They are the fun ctional equivalent of electricity in the industrial era.
In closure, I would like to use this opportunity to welcome, in his absence, the new CEO of SITA, Mr. Colin van Schalkwyk, whose appointment was approved by Cabinet yesterday. We look forward to a fruitful working relationship with Mr. van Schalkwyk, who b rings considerable influence and experience to the post of the CEO. I am sure that your new business leader will contribute greatly to the realisation of the symbolic overtures of the corporate identity that you are about to reveal.
Issued by: Ministry of Public Service and Administration, 26 October 2000