Day 3 - GovTech conference, Durban

I started my day by a walkabout around the eye-catching Moses Mabhida Stadium. Took few pictures....

A walk along the South Coast Beachfront and I was hoping to ride on a Rickshaw but they only start a little later than 09h00. I managed to put my feet on the warm Durban waters. I am not so used to such warm water as I live closer to the ice cold Blouberg beaches in Cape Town.



Then during the last day of the conference I sat in the plenary session where a KZN provincial official was presented a Digital Nerve Centre project, which was followed by a presenter that I personally want to meet. He is a professor from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Prof Shaun Pather spoke on Government for Citizens.

Day 2 - GovTech conference, Durban

The day was kickstarted by real time VC interaction with the Australian Government Chief, Mr Glen Archer of the Australian IM Office. The video conference was made smooth by the Neotel's data lines and Polycom's video streaming technologies. Government 2.0 to achieve the three goals informing, engaging and participation with the citizens. Web 2.0 tools such as blogs (govspace.gov.au)

Followed by a presentation by a Canadian from OpenText who spoke on the Public Sector Social Media. Social Media in organisations is a brilliant KM tool to share tacit knowledge and collaborate to their colleagues. Their recent success story is setting up a social platform for the 2010 G20 convention in Toronto where governments, business, academia and youth in attendance interacted and collaborated on issues being discussed. Another successful social media project is the "Public Sector Without Borders" which encourages all governments to interact and collaborate on public sector issues.


My key moment was interacting with big business on how they are closing the skills gap, for instance, the recent graduates when they leave college they are work-unready and most of them struggle to catch with the work demands in the first year. There are quite a number big IT business that offer Learnerships, Internship and Training opportunities to close this gap. Let's see how far will this assist some of the recent graduates that I know - I will have to link them to these companies.


My personal contribution was at a breakaway session on "Effective Project Management in Government". I informed the delegates about the journey of Project Management Approach in the Western Cape Government and how in terms of the PM Methodology we are finding a balance between Prince2 and PMBOK. I also highlighted the biggest challenge to PMA implementation in any government, that is, residence to change. So Change Management should be a major investment in any PMA. The speaker from SITA, Ms Elize van Straten, agreed with me 100%.

Evening socialising

I ended my day by attending an MTN social party, upon invitation. I interacted with government officials and business as well as catched up with former classmates from university.

Day 1 - GovTech conference, Durban

The session started late but managed to capture my attention especially with the notion by the Acting CEO and the National Minister of Public Service and Administration on turning around SITA (the South Africa's State Information Technology Agency).


Ms Ntsinde, the Acting CEO of SITA did not seem to be enthusiatic on presenting the change that she is bring to the ailing agency as she iterated that she does not want to be measured on the plans but on the action made. Among other things the turnaround strategy for SITA pointed out to three areas
(1) PRice competitiveness
(2) Supply Chain Management efficiencies, and
(3) Wiping out corruption that has dogged the agency

Dr Harold Wesso, from the Western cape's government and the architect of Cape Gateway initiative, who is now the Acting DG at Comms Dept, made a presentation on the South African move towards broadband. It is exciting how both public and private sectors have finally moved beyond the talks to push for broadband. We cannot deny that the Soccer World Cup was an impetus behind this major investment in broadband. I can't wait for the full rollout that will benefit the Government, SMME business and the ordinary citizens. Within no time we can begin to see the real eGovernment benefits to the Citizens especially the rural citizens.

I was surprised to meet a friend Dr Solomon Bhunu who presented the Presidency's Government-wide M&E framework and system. He indicated that an information system (with GIS, M&E indicator framework and BI reporting capabilities) will be developed soon to monitor and report on the performance of individual Government Departments, National and Provincial. It was interesting to meet him together with other Western Cape based delegates.

One of the presenter made a good impression on virtualisation and cloud computing for government. There is a talk and a practise on Government Cloud (g-cloud) which can be made highly secured as a VPN for all government tiers and agencies.

During the afternoon I visited the UShaka Marine World. Wow, this place is truly amazing. I will be bring my family here. Unfortunate the interesting sections such as the Aquarium were closed.

What I expect at the GovTech conference

This afternoon I am taking a Durban flight to attend the SITA's GovTech Conference which is kickstarting tomorrow morning until Wednesday. Being my first time to attend this gathering of Government IT Managers & Specialists, I am looking forward not to learning as much as to sharing from the Western Cape's experience of the Modernisation Process of Government.

Among other things my interest is in the following areas...networking with key movers and shakers in IT/IS/IM, knowledge sharing, learning on successful running of a Project Management Office (PMO) in Government, Cloud Computing, deployment of FOSS applications such as Joomla, Business Intelligence tools, eGovernment for Citizens, ICT effiencies and effectiveness etc.

I am looking forward to this one...

In the evening I visited the Sun Coast Casino where I had my dinner.

My passion

I have found my passion... lecturing and motivating University students.

Recently I have been awarded a second job which does gives me satisfaction. After I have delivered every weekly lecture I go home with a great sense of achievement, fulfulment. This time it is not about money, even though extra money is appreciated. It is about each of my 21 students who listen to me for the 3 hour slot that I have with them.

At the 3rd year level they are in the valley of decision where they face certain/uncertain future whether it registering for an Honours degree or looking for a job or starting own businesses. As much as I am a lecturer, I see myself as an advisor and facilitate to link them with possible job opportunities etc.

I am really grateful for this opportunity!

Soccer World Cup 2010

South Africa has recently hosted the grandest world cup ever to be staged in Africa. Well done South Africa!

2010 Budget Speech for South Africa

Again it is even more encouraging that South African government is putting money where their mouth is. Mr Gordhan through his budget speech for 2010 has reiterated the words of the President Zuma in that "green economy initiatives will create new opportunities for enterprise development, job creation and the renewal of commercial and residential environments"

Mr Gordhan after noting the challenges that climate change is posing, he on the other hand pointed out to opportunities for South Africa such as creating an environment that will "enable investment in sustainable technologies". He with the same vigour calls for "industries to be helped to manage scarce resources more efficiently and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through appropriate pricing of energy."

Green Opportunities

I believe that South Africa is doing her bit to contribute to the green economy. This is a call to local and foreign investors to reconsider opportunities in the country and in Africa in the renewable energy sector including R&D of sustainable living technologies and efficiency-driven approaches.

President's speech

Two things that may be of much interest to the Green Community from the South African Presidential State of the Nations Address last Thursday.

Firstly, he highlighted that his administration over 2010 will create green jobs.

I quote his words..."Our Industrial Policy Action Plan and our new focus on green jobs, will build stronger and more labour absorbing industries." I still need to familiarise myself the Industrial Policy Action Plan that he is refering to. This is encouraging as the whole world need to make progress in terms of building an economy that is less carbon-intensive.

Secondly, he also promised to create an enabling environment for the IPP's (Independent Power Producers) as opposed to one ESKOM monopolised approach. This is good news for both local and foreign investors who have for so many years tried to penetrate the renewable energy sector in South Africa but the legislative framework has not been supportive.

Happy New Year, 2010!

As a proud South African I am ready to welcome visitors to the "Mother Land" for the FIFA Soccer World Cup. It is exciting!

I wish everyone a happy, peaceful and prosperous 2010.