Only around 14% of government ICT expenditure is spent by the health and education departments combined.
This is according to BMI-TechKnowledge's recently published 2015 ICT in government report. The study found 79% of the current health and education budget is spent at a provincial level, with this figure expected to grow to 87% in 2017/2018.
BMI-T found government's current total national and provincial ICT spend is around R13.6 billion, with only around R1.87 billion being spent on ICT in health and education. This is expected to grow to R2.09 billion by the 2017/2018 financial year, with health contributing about two-thirds and education, one-third. The total budget for ICT is expected to grow to R15 billion in 2017/2018.
BMI-T points out the SA Connect Broadband Policy, published in December 2013, set timelines and speeds for broadband connectivity rollout, with specific targets for schools and health facilities as well as other government offices.
The Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) controls national policies for broadband rollout. Telkom has been designated as 'lead agent' to coordinate rollout of broadband to an initial eight municipalities in six provinces. However, details on how this will be done have not been clarified as yet, according to the BMI-T report.
"DTPS has, however, allocated an additional R740 million over the medium-term in the broadband sub-programme of the ICT infrastructure support programme. This phase focuses on providing broadband connection services to schools, health clinics and other government facilities in the eight districts where national health insurance is being piloted.
"Around R240 million has been allocated for this financial year, but it is unclear how this money will translate into actual ICT spend to connect schools and health clinics, as the budgets for provincial health and education do not seem to reflect much of an increase in ICT spend," says BMI-T.
This money could, however, be funnelled through different channels, as BMI-T points out that "presently some of the provincial broadband programmes, related to health and education, do not necessary go through the provincial health and education votes, but fall under provincial economic development departments, the office of the premier, or even the finance departments".
BMI-T believes a great deal more money needs to be pumped into these projects if SA wants to reach the given SA Connect broadband targets.
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