Official reply: 4 December 2009
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 2120
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
Date of publication on internal question paper: 6 November 2009
Internal question paper no:
Dr S M Pillay (ANC) to ask the Minister of Social Development:
Whether she has been informed of the computer network failing repeatedly in
Uitenhage's SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) offices; if not, what is the
position in this regard; if so, why is this office using the 3G cards
whereas the State has access to State Information Technology Agency,
Sentech and Telkom which are more reliable and secure?
NW2785E
REPLY:
Yes, I have been informed of the challenges faced by the South African
Social Security Agency (âAgencyâ) regarding service delivery in general,
which also embrace ICT challenges not only in the Uitenhage office, but
throughout the entire Agency.
SASSA is exploring and where possible partnering with other organs of state
utilizing their network. In provinces where offices are being shared with
the Department of Social Development, the agreement is that SASSA would
utilize their network and carry expenditure in that regard. We are also
capitalizing on space in Thusong Centres and connect to SASSA via the GCCN
line that already exist in these Centres. The challenge is where SASSA has
independent offices, acquired its own building, and no partnership can be
explored as in the case of the Uitenhage office.
Unfortunately, the service delivery challenges faced by the South African
Social Security Agency are mainly due to budgetary constraints. This is a
general challenge for Government as a whole which emanates from the current
economic recession that has affected the World at large.
The SASSA office in Uitenhage, is amongst offices that have been identified
to be in need of ICT infrastructure upgrading and was included in the
Agencyâs ICT Infrastructure Development Plans. This includes cabling and
installation of network services, both the Local Area Network and the Wide
Area Network. However, as indicated above the lack of financial resources
has been a constraint in effectively implementing these plans.
The Agency hopes to access funding as part of its 2010-2012/13 MTEF Budget
Cycle in order to address this matter.
As an interim measure, the Agency issued 3G cards, ensuring service
delivery continuity and the execution of its mandate.