The local government ICT budget is expected to grow by 22% this year and 13% during the 2007/8 financial year, says ForgeAhead.
In a research report presented at a recent "ICT in local government" summit in Mmabatho, ForgeAhead said municipalities are still realising the importance of ICT.
Larger municipalities see ICT as a tool, said ForgeAhead`s head of research, Adrian Schofield. However, smaller municipalities still view ICT as a computer instead of seeing the bigger picture.
"It is disappointing that 70% of ICT personnel within the 201 municipalities surveyed do not understand the purpose of the Inter Governmental Relations Act, which aims to promote co-operation and good relations between the governmental spheres.
"Less than 20% of municipalities have implemented ICT strategies and master systems plans," he added.
Key inhibitors
Schofield noted that skills, staff shortage and budget are still key inhibitors of ICT implementation.
"The trend is similar to that of 2005, with 60% of respondents citing budget and staff shortage is their main challenge and 63% citing skills shortage," he said.
He said municipalities have shifted from streamlining workflow as a key driver, as reported in ForgeAhead`s study conducted in 2005, with many moving towards information sharing. Sixty-seven percent of respondents are moving into shared services and 66% are integrating their systems, he added.
He noted that three in five municipalities use leased lines, and 82% of municipalities expected their senior personnel to use laptops, although Internet access and e-mail access was still limited to senior personnel.
About half of the South African municipalities have no intranet and by 2009, 65% of municipalities will be using wireless technology, he said.
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