Minister of Communications and Digital Tecnologies Mondli Gungubele delivers his departments budget vote in parliament. Image: Twitter: @MondliGungubel_
Government to spend R1.3 billion on creating 9900 hotspots
‘We welcome the initiatives by government departments, towards digitising their paper-based records into digital format’- Gungubele
Minister of Communications and Digital Tecnologies Mondli Gungubele delivers his departments budget vote in parliament. Image: Twitter: @MondliGungubel_
As the world becomes digitised, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies aims to create close to 10 000 hotspots across 16 districts nationwide to a tune of R1,3 billion by 2024 through the SA Connect Plan.
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Minister Mondli Gungubele announced in Parliament during the departments’ budget vote on Wednesday.
The State Information and Technology Agency (SITA) has called to step up and build the required network that connects and digitises government departments, hospitals and schools. This, in turn, would see communities around these facilities become connected.
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“The State Information Technology Agency needs to re-establish itself as the leading expert on ICT matters in government rather than just being an IT procurement shop,” says Gungubele.
In addition, SITA will launch a National Broadband Project worth at least R6 billion, awarded per region and ensure that government reduces the cost and duplication of connectivity infrastructure from municipalities up to the national government level.
DIGITISING THE POST OFFICE
Gungubele continued to reiterate the department’s commitment via its The Post Office of Tomorrow Strategy, to improve customer experience by simplifying and streamlining processes and increasing accessibility and convenience.
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“This will be achieved through innovative technology solutions such as online portals and mobile applications, as well as enhancing the efficiency of existing postal services”, he says.
“The Post Office of Tomorrow Plan revises the strategic role of the SA Post Office from a conveyor of letter-post to an integrated logistics and e-commerce service provider, including designation as the National Authentication Authority”, he added.
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