While government has increased its IT spend across most of its departments, its priorities are on modernising its systems and not the roll-out of any major broadband initiatives.
Following several weeks of budget presentations to Parliament, ministers revealed their IT plans. While spending on IT projects increased across most departments, budget allocations focused on improving existing systems and processes. In what can be seen as an indication of economic conditions and failures in previous administrations, ministers did not announce any ambitious projects.
While recognising the importance of IT in improving social development, most departments kept their promises safe, choosing only to upgrade and integrate systems. Ministers also addressed increased spending pressures and the need to improve financial management in their departments.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development noted that R3 billion would mostly be spent on improving IT processes and infrastructure, and this was similarly highlighted by most departments. IT infrastructure, hardware renewal, network infrastructure, data security and the expansion and roll-out of information systems, received the bulk of ICT funding.
Other departments, such as the departments of public service and administration (DPSA) and trade and industry (DTI) and police, also highlighted the need to modernise and integrate IT systems with existing infrastructure.
Old pressures
With one of the biggest backlogs in government, the Department of Home Affairs' (DHA's) R500 million IT allocation is not expected to go a long way. Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma stated in her address to Parliament that the ongoing projects are aimed at fighting corruption and improving service delivery.
While the budget allocation represents a small portion of the department's overall R5 billion allocation, this is an increase from previous years. The budget is also set to grow to R652 million in 2010/11, but will decrease again in 2011/12.
Out of the R500 million, the department has allocated R142 million to ensure its processes and systems are ready for 2010. Its existing IT systems, such business intelligence processes, the electronic document management system and the Hanis system, remain a key focus for the department.
IT links
Despite highlighting the importance of IT in service delivery, other departments failed to clearly indicate what allocations had been made to existing or new IT projects. The Department of Safety and Security - now known as the Department of Police - increased its spending and spoke of the importance of IT, but did not reflect these statements in its budget.
Intentions to improve its cyber crime capabilities and the integration of its IT systems were only indicated by an increase to related departments. Detective services programmes and intelligence and forensic capabilities, funding areas the minister identified for additional support, received additional money.
The DPSA also followed this trend. The department was allocated a total budget of R355 million for 2009/10. While in his address, minister Richard Baloyi renewed promises to deliver on e-government services, no specific allocations were made to such initiatives.
Programmes such as the Information and Technology Management initiative received R41 million, while service delivery improvements were allocated R32 million. IT-related programmes, such as governance, received R41 million and the Centre for Public Service Innovation received R11 million.
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