Gijima has played a significant role in the optimisation of state ICT infrastructure by developing the only certified SAP municipal template that is fully compliant with the requirements of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
The optimisation of state ICT infrastructure, together with improved service delivery and turnaround through technological advancements, has helped create a better place to work and live in for South Africans, says Lucky Kwele, Industry consultant of Public Services at Gijima Holdings.
“Besides creating a better working and living environment, more sustainable jobs have been created and the digital divide has largely been bridged by providing the means for, among other things, pupils who don’t have an internet connection at home, accessing the internet for school projects via internet hubs,” says Kwele.
Mutual investment and cooperation between government and the private sector is crucial if SA wants to grow its economy, attract investment and compete on a global ICT stage.
“Many of the upgrades and modernisation required are not only capital intensive and expensive, but are also complex to manage and outside of the scope and skill-set of many government agencies. Modernisation of infrastructure and models used, new technologies, better efficiency and improved services of citizens and customers are sorely needed,” he says.
By having the private sector perform an e-government or ICT service for local government, a potential “win-win” solution can be realized with the private sector financing and operating a system, and so putting government in a better position for effective, high quality service delivery. A private-public partnership would enable the private sector to carry the risk of implementation, including funding.
South Africa has really progressed in terms of ICT in the municipal arena, says Kwele.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) is currently driving the Smart City agenda, which aims at providing each city with ICT infrastructure that will enable municipalities to achieve this objective.
The key aims of Smart Cities are to be technologically competent institutions with enhanced service efficiencies and productivity where smart and effective service delivery will be the norm.
Highlighting Gijima projects in conjunction with municipalities, Kwele says that one of the key challenges is for municipalities to collect the funds owed to them.
“Gijima’s aim in its partnership with municipalities is to drive the improvement of municipal financial management, billing and collection through the innovative use of smart meters and technology solutions. The result is improved billing and collection processes resulting in better access to outstanding funds, which are needed to finance infrastructure and development programmes,” adds Kwele.
Smart metering generally involves the installation of an intelligent meter at residential customers and the regular reading, processing and feedback of consumption data to the customer.
Kwele says in areas where smart meters have been installed, municipalities are generating more accurate bills and are experiencing fewer technical losses.
The key functionality of smart metering covers areas such as billing data collation and verification, revenue management, operational support and information to manage power outages, maintenance and network upgrades, as well as customer service information, integration methodologies to transfer data from and to legacy systems, and load switching and control data.
Broadband availability is sorely needed and should lower the cost of connectivity.
“Broadband networks are to be the drivers of growth and development, and will provide opportunities to solve the socio-economic inequalities standing in the way of creating wealth and prosperity for less advantaged populations.
“Strengthening the capacity to build effective and efficient ICTs with excellent management systems, effective policies and streamlined processes for effective decision-making and service delivery, should be the key strategic focus areas. Affordable broadband connectivity for residents will support socio-economic development through accelerated growth, expanded productivity and enhanced quality of life for all,” says Kwele.
Kwele further cites Johannesburg as a good example of a Smart City on the move:
* The city wants to become smart in all aspects, providing services easy to access and use while at the same time being efficient, responsive in an open and transparent way; and ensuring sustainability financially, environmentally and in quality service delivery.
* For this the city will deliver quality ICT systems and services to encourage active involvement and engagement by its citizens, including municipal services provided to households via a broadband infrastructure.
* The city aims to install between 10 000 and 12 000 smart meters per month in the first phase of the smart meter roll-out. The first phase should be complete by October 2015 with a total installation of 50 000 meters.
* The roll-out of fibre-optic cables will improve the lives of ordinary citizens in the city from a connectivity viewpoint and will modernise the country’s transmission infrastructure to achieve world-class broadband connectivity. A distance of more than 12 000 km will be covered eventually.
* The demand for broadband in South Africa is escalating, and will be met as more capacity becomes available on the various submarine cables linking the country, and Africa, with the rest of the world.
Gijima has a broad list of high profile SAP clients and currently runs one of the largest SAP support hubs in Southern Africa.