Pretoria – Government has commended the Department of Home Affairs for scooping the prestigious ICT Service Delivery Transformation Award.
The award is in recognition of the department’s automated booking system for its refugee reception offices at the ICT Public Service Awards at GovTech 2016.
Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) was the first runner-up in two categories, including the ICT Service Delivery Transformation Award: National Government category, for the South African Government Mobile Application and the Local Government category for the GovChat Social Media Platform.
The 2016 Public Service ICT Awards recognise and reward innovation for improved service delivery.
Citizens currently use the Government Mobile application to access several functions to inform and empower them. The app provides easy access to government information via a single mobile application. These include searching for government contact details, listening to the daily Government Radio bulletin, accessing newly published jobs and new tenders; as well as reading daily news.
GovChat enables real time conversations between elected councillors and citizens. Communities will also be able to receive up-to-date information about their concerns accordingly and the platform allows citizens to send images, photos, videos, public and private messages in real time directly to their ward councillors.
“Government is proud to be at the forefront of this technological innovation, which also creates a more inclusive society. The National Development Plan, South Africa’s blueprint, provides the overarching picture of the role ICT plays in realising Vision 2030, [to reduce] the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequity.
“Government believes that an informed and participative citizenry is vital to strengthening democracy and this can be achieved through utilising technology to improve service delivery,” said Acting GCIS Director General, Donald Liphoko. – SAnews.gov.za
