Vision

“Be the lead ICT agency to enable public sector deliver”

Mission

“To render an efficient and value added ICT service to the public sector in a secure, cost-effective and integrated manner, contributing to citizen convenience.”

Values

• Customer-Centricity
• Integrity
• Collaboration
• Innovation
• Agility
• Empathy

The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) was established on 4 April 1999 to consolidate and coordinate the State’s information technology (IT) resources in order to achieve cost savings through scale, increase delivery capabilities and enhance interoperability.

The company came into operation on 4 April 1999 as a result of the SITA Act (Act 988 of 1998). Although it is a very young company, its predecessors had a long history of IT/IS service provision to the SA Government.

The three entities that merged when SITA came into operation on 1 April 1999, CCS, Infoplan and SAPS IT, were part of the first phase. CCS used to be a Chief Directorate of the Department of State Expenditure while Infoplan provided IT, IS and IM services to the Department of Defence. The SAPS IT was the IT facility of the South African Police Service.

Most State departments had internal IT facility divisions, which to a smaller or larger degree performed this work. The bigger departments' IT divisions tended to provide more services than the smaller divisions. A great deal more was contracted out to the private sector. Large numbers of departments were unable to recruit suitably qualified, experienced or knowledgeable staff to perform these functions and were forced to either contract the work out to the private sector or recruit consultants. In many cases these consultants became full-time "employees" at considerable cost to the department. The consequent over dependence of Government on contractors and reduction of costs for services rendered are some of the key issues for resolution by SITA.

The primary reasons for the creation of SITA were the government's difficulty in:

1. recruiting, developing and retaining skilled IT personnel;
2. managing IT procurement and ensuring that the government gets value for money;
3. using IT to support transformation and service delivery;
4. utilising effectively expensive IT resources; and
5. integrating IT initiatives.

In short, SITA was established to consolidate and co-ordinate the State's IMST interests.

As the lead IT agency for the State, SITA has been at the forefront of IT in government to providing responsive and relevant ICT products; services and solutions to government as its shareholder. Within its mandate; a core pillar of the organisation is to leverage economies of scale to cost-effectively procure IT goods and services; and to set standards for security and interoperability in government implementation of core ICT programmes.

SITA has been despite all challenges; a key enabler for improved ICT performance and its footprint and legacy can be found in many government systems and key services. Its state-of-the-art Next Generation network (NGN) and the Network Operation Centre (NOC) supports government as an ICT backbone of the country.

SITA is transforming into a high-performance and customer-centred organisation with a new and relevant value proposition that delivers services and products agilely while ensuring inclusivity for SMME’s; while always ensuring alignment to government’s national developmental agenda.

As per SITA Act (Act 88 of 1998 as amended by Act 38 of 2002),

“To improve service delivery to the public through the provision of information technology, information systems and related services in a maintained information system security environment to the departments and public bodies; and to promote the efficiency of departments and public bodies through the use of information technology.”

• a) SITA Act 88 of 1998 as amended by SITA Amendment Act 38 of 2002
• b) SITA General Regulations
• c) Public Finance Management Act (No. 1 of 1999)
• d) National Treasury Regulations
• e) Companies Act (No. 71 of 2008)
• f) Electronic Communications Act (No. 36 of 2005)
• g) Electronic Communication and Transactions Act (No. 21 of 2002)
• h) National Key Points Act (No. 102 of 1980), as amended by National Key Points Amendment Act (No. 47 of 1985)
• i) Public Service Act (No. 103 of 1994), as amended by Public Service (Amendment) Act (No. 30 of 2007)
• j) Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (No. 5 of 2000)
• k) Public Administration Management Acts

Managing Director

Contact :

Ms. Vutomi Magamana: 012 482 3321