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Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Communication 9 November 2007. OUTLINE. Overview Business Performance 2006/7 USAASA USAF Financial Performance 2006/7 USAASA USAF Medium Term Outlook Conclusion. Overview Ms Cassandra Gabriel Chairperson: USAASA Board. OVERVIEW.
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Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Communication9 November 2007
OUTLINE • Overview • Business Performance 2006/7 • USAASA • USAF • Financial Performance 2006/7 • USAASA • USAF • Medium Term Outlook • Conclusion
OVERVIEW • Challenges over the past decade • Evolution of the Agency mandate and strategy • The role of the Agency in managing the USAF was not aligned to its mandate. • Since inception, programmes lacked a sustainability plan • Achievements were never measured • Programme implementation lacked stakeholder participation. • Lack of public awareness of the Agency’s activities.
Business Review 2006/7 • USAASA • Focus on Agency stability. • Translating the new mandate into new strategy. • Implementing a turn-around strategy to reposition the Agency. • Bringing in needed skills and capacity. • Audit of all funded projects. • Addressing funding challenges.
Business Review • Since inception the Agency launched 154 Telecentres.
Business Review • Since inception the Agency launched 234 Cyberlabs
Business Review: Audit Findings • Community access Centres • Services that require rehabilitation • Photocopying • Fax • Printing • Scanning • Telephone • Internet • Training ( Accreditation) • Governance structures • Business and ICT skills training • Strong partnerships with Municipalities ( Oversight ) • Schools • Services that require rehabilitation • All computers need to be replaced • Additional services required to enhance learning environment • Digital Projector • Digital whiteboard
AG audit opinions on USAASA and the USAF • Since 2001 the Agency and the USAF received unqualified opinions from the Auditor-General • No emphasis of matters during the same period
USAF Subsidies Communities R 9,303m • Access Centre maintenance and Connectivity (R2, 504m) • Capacity building (R6, 799m) Schools R 10,277m • Cyber-lab maintenance and connectivity USALS R 5,950m TOTAL R 25,530m
Strategic Context • DoC ASGISA priorities • Increase access to and enhance the quality of education using ICTs. • Increase access to and improve quality of government service delivery. • To provide robust, reliable, and affordable ICT infrastructure. • Contributing to social cohesion and national identity. • ISET ICT Plan • WTO issues, ICT and Broadcasting policy
Repositioning Strategy • Redefine Universal Service and Access within the developmental agenda and converged platforms. • Review the role, identity and image- involve stakeholders. • Identify key partners. • Identify the niche to be addressed by the Agency - Filling the Gap. • Provide accurate information on universal service and access gaps and monitor progress. • Review the USAFund. • Address capacity and funding constraints.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES • To reposition the Agency as a natural champion of universal service and access. • To reach every South African excluded from universal service and access to ICT and Broadcasting facilities and services, especially the needy and the disabled. • To effectively and efficiently manage the USA Fund. • To collaborate with the ICT industry in making ICTs available, accessible and affordable to all South A Africans. • To provide rigorous and continuous research regarding universal service and access.
Priority Initiatives • Collaboration with relevant stakeholders • Advise Minister and Department on issues impacting on universal service and access • Expanding universal service to broadcasting and postal services • Central repository of knowledge: Portal • Definitions of under-serviced areas and needy persons, e.g. the disabled • International benchmarking • Affordability and costs of ICT services • Develop a sustainability model for ICT projects • Monitor and evaluate progress of universal service and access
Research and Innovation • Review current Universal Service and Access regime and Reports conducted by the Agency. • Consult the public and make recommendations on definitions to the Minister. • Define niche areas of research for the Agency. • Collaborate with other Research Institutions on ICTs. • Design programmes and schemes on universal service and access. • Monitor and Evaluate progress on Universal Service and Access.
Corporate Services • Finalise Human Capital, Media, Communications and Marketing strategies. • Launch of new Agency brand. • Public awareness initiatives in support of Agency and USAF programmes. • Consolidate Partnerships: • Parliament • DoC • MDDA • GCIS • ICASA • Industry • Civil Society
USAF • Access to ICT services • Connectivity • Funding Agent • Enterprise development • Competitive bidding • Focus on needy persons and under-serviced areas • Accelerate infrastructure development • Training and skills development • Public awareness campaigns • Management Information systems
USAF: Telecentres • 4 telecentres completed. • 24 under deployment. • Rehabilitation cost per telecentre: R200,000 • Envisaged completion date: December 2007 • Equipment supplied includes: Photocopier, networked computers, server, and internet connectivity. • Deployment of new telecentres = R387,000