Sita reports strong annual results
22 September 2003
The State Information Technology Agency (Sita) says it has recorded a 44% increase in turnover for the year ending March 2003.
Sita Acting Chief Executive Officer Ken Modise said the agency's revenue increased by about R600-million to over R1.9-billion during the same period, while its net profit for the past year was R83-million compared to the previous year's loss of R51-million.
Launched four years ago, Sita is tasked with providing the government with various information technology services, such as data processing, IT and information systems training, application software development and maintenance, and the promotion of the effective use of information technology to enhance efficiency at all levels of the public service.
Releasing the agency's financial results for 2002/2003 in Johannesburg on Monday, Public Services and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said Sita's mandate was to give the government the platform
to deliver crucial services.
"The majority of our citizens are still struggling to access government services, and it is the duty of state-owned enterprises and state agencies to assist government to deliver these services to our people", Fraser-Moleketi added.
She said the e-Government Gateway programme would be one of government's most crucial undertakings to date, providing the public with 24-hour access to government services.
According to Modise, some of the highlights of the year included offering internship to 300 learners in various information and communication technology programmes, and the achievement of Minimum Interoperability Standards (MIOS) and Minimum Information Security Standards (MISS).
"Within these areas we have successfully hosted and continued to advance the Open Software Standard (OSS) and focused on the advancement of XML standards for deployment of technology solutions in government", Modise said.
He said Sita was spending
R34-million on internships.
"Recognising a skilled, knowledgeable workforce is the key to gaining competitive advantage, and in response to the President's call to address the digital divide, Sita is developing a new skills base through an unprecedented training and development drive."
Source: BuaNews
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