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Explore the progress and challenges in providing integrated government services through Thusong Service Centres. Learn about critical success factors, project budget, recommendations, and state of readiness.
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PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION Thusong Service Centres Connectivity SITA’s State of Readiness 19 June 2013
TABLE OF CONTENT • Purpose • Critical Success Factors • Progress on Current Project • Project Budget • Challenges • Recommendations
PURPOSE OF THE THUSONG SERVICE CENTRES • The Thusong Service Centre is a one stop service centre to deliver essential and integrated government services to the citizens of South Africa, primarily in the rural communities
PROGRESS ON CURRENT PROJECT • The ThusongVirtual Private Network Project commenced in 2008. • The original scope of the Thusong VPN project was to provide connectivity for 140 Thusong sites in nine provinces. • After a due diligence exercise and an assessment to determine the site readiness, only 123 sites were ready for installation. • 17 sites were excluded due to building and service (power/water) issues and building renovations. • 27 sites in Gauteng are placed on hold. • To date a total number of 91 of the 96 sites allocated to SITA has been completed at 8 provinces (excluding Gauteng).
CHALLENGES IN THE THUSONG SERVICE CENTRE CONNECTIVITY PROJECT • Outstanding operational costs • No Signed Service Level agreements • No instruction for the continuation of connectivity services • Generally low level of communication from Thusong Centers regarding technical problems (training) • Proper user requirements and resources • Access to buildings • Reporting structure
RECOMMENDATIONS • The following factors play a significant role on the implementation of the Thusong Service Centre connectivity and therefore the following are recommended: • Pricing • Reduction of connectivity costs and tariffs for government • Project Sponsorship/ Championship • Revised governance and program ownership is required • Completeness of buildings • Ensure building readiness before connectivity of TSCs to avoid delayed the commissioning of the sites
STATE OF READINESS cont. • SITA’s capacity to deliver timeously • The underpinning contracts that enable the tasking of supporting service providers to complete the work speedily are in place or almost concluded • E-government initiative • SITA is rolling out smart-forms (electronic/ e-forms) that will enable citizens to apply for services online • Citizens without access to internet services can then access those forms through the TSCs • To date 37 forms for services have been completed including those for the Departments: • Labour (25), • Transporting (1) • Human Settlements (8) • Basic Education (3) • SITA is only awaiting the completion of back office processes by respective Departments to activate the forms online