PSC Welcomes a call by the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies to Investigate Challenges at the State Information Technology Agency
12 December 2024
The Public Service Commission (PSC) welcomes the call from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mr. Malatsi, to investigate
the governance challenges at the State Information Technology Agency (SITA). The PSC recognizes the critical role SITA plays in supporting
government departments to deliver essential services to the citizens of South Africa. Governance issues at SITA, if left unaddressed, threaten
to undermine these vital services.
This call aligns directly with the PSC’s ongoing efforts to promote accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in the Public Service. The PSC has,
through its various investigations of complaints and studies noted consistent reports of inefficiencies with Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) support, and the negative impact on service delivery to the citizens. In 2022, the Public Service Commission embarked on a project to assess the
effectiveness of government support for service delivery focusing on ICT in the Public Service. A Roundtable was held in November 2022 with government
and diverse stakeholders to delve into the whole eco-system of the provision of government ICT and to propose measures to ensure effective and efficient
support within the Public Service Roundtable Report on ICT for Service Delivery March 2023
The findings and recommendations of the ICT study and Roundtable were presented to the former Minister of Communications and Digital Technology, Portfolio
Committee and other governance structures. The report was accepted without contestation. The call by Minister Malatsi thus reinforces the implementation of
the PSC’s recommendations made in the study.
The PSC remained active in this IT space, beyond the initial study conducted. Therefore the investigation that is called for, complements the PSC’s work
which is advancing currently on assessing the State’s capacity and capability to address cybersecurity challenges. In today’s interconnected world,
cybersecurity is integral to the effective and efficient delivery of public services. Strengthening cyber resilience is therefore critical to the State’s
ability to fulfil its constitutional mandate.
The PSC looks forward to collaborating with the Office of the Minister and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to ensure a
comprehensive and impactful investigation.
The PSC remains committed to working alongside all stakeholders to identify sustainable solutions to governance and service delivery challenges.
This process is essential to building a capable, professional, and resilient public service that serves the needs of all South Africans.
Issued by the Public Service Commission
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