The South African state is, by far, the nation’s largest single employer. It employs greater than 1.3-million individuals, together with lecturers, nurses, docs, municipal employees, cops and defence drive members. All too usually, the general public sector has additionally been used to cushion the nation’s shockingly excessive unemployment price.
These employment numbers include a major price too. Within the 2021-2022 monetary 12 months, the general public sector wage invoice hit R665.1-billion and is about to rise to R702-billion in 2024-25. Put otherwise, whereas the federal government employs 13% of all employees within the nation, it pays 33% of all wages.
After all, strange taxpayers wouldn’t thoughts footing that invoice if it meant improved service supply. But it surely merely doesn’t. Even the place public sector workers are doing their utmost, they’re constrained by outdated working fashions, inefficient IT methods, and the gradual rollout of digitalisation. Whereas there are any variety of elements at play in relation to these constraints, one of the alarming is a pervasive worry that digitalisation might result in job losses. However with the best expertise in place, that needn’t be the case.
Untransformed and afraid
There could be little doubt that many parts of the general public sector have lagged in relation to digital transformation. Whereas there are a number of shining lights (SARS’ revamped eFiling system involves thoughts), the image is essentially bleak.
The Nationwide Planning Fee’s (NPC) report Digital Futures – South Africa’s Digital Readiness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution highlights how unhealthy issues are. It means that there was a wholesale institutional failure on the a part of the state in relation to digital transformation. There’s additionally a really clear scarcity of expertise. In 2021, for instance, it was revealed that 62% of municipal councillors lacked the essential laptop expertise wanted to cross municipal budgets.
Way more regarding, although, are the people who find themselves actively attempting to stop digitalisation out of a worry that the elevated effectivity it brings will end in job losses. At its worst, this worry may end up in individuals destroying know-how. Earlier this 12 months, for instance, the Metropolis of Johannesburg skilled two assaults in two weeks through which computer systems and arduous drives have been broken and destroyed.
On the time, Mayoral Committee Member Belinda Echeozonjoku mentioned that incidents have been a transparent signal of pushback in opposition to a digitisation venture that was designed to hurry up the processing of constructing plans. That’s only one instance, but when there’s comparable pushback across the nation (not essentially simply within the type of vandalism but additionally in a refusal to undertake new applied sciences and processes), then it’s straightforward to see how digitalisation is being held again throughout the nation.
The necessity for long-term pondering
So as to overcome these fears and among the obstacles, it’s essential to make sure that public sector employees perceive that delivering safe, streamlined experiences which can be tailor-made to the citizen’s wants is in their very own greatest pursuits.
The higher and extra streamlined service supply is, the extra enticing South Africa can be to home and worldwide buyers. With a rising economic system and decrease unemployment price, there can be a bigger tax base, that means that extra money could be directed into public sector programmes. That, in flip, means extra jobs, not fewer.
Particular person departments can additional ease fears that digital transformation will price jobs by making certain that everybody has the mandatory expertise to profit from new applied sciences. In spite of everything, when you perceive how one thing works, it turns into lots much less scary.
The best applied sciences
Lastly, digitalisation could be made lots smoother by departments selecting the best applied sciences. These embrace, however are usually not restricted to:
Self Service Portals: With specialised portals that authenticate profiles, customers can securely entry applicable, helpful data and collaborate with others. Personalised portals, whether or not for residents or authorities workers, could make it simpler for customers to search out what they want, rising belief and bettering mission outcomes.
Trendy Intranets: Protected, customised intranets allow workers to search out the knowledge they want after they want it. Safe, fashionable intranets assist workers higher handle their advantages and profession planning, permitting for increased satisfaction and higher worker retention.
Web sites: The very best web sites enchantment to residents, enhance person expertise, and enhance engagement. Ideally, a website ought to present interesting and environment friendly net experiences that clear up the person’s drawback in a single location.
An instantaneous crucial
The crucial to push for this sort of change has by no means been better. Improved service supply is essential to South Africa turning its fortunes round and quelling frustrations amongst its residents. Digital transformation is among the handiest methods of reaching this. Fears of job losses, which aren’t grounded in actuality, can’t be allowed to impede it.
Greg Gathere is an account supervisor at Liferay Africa
BUSINESS REPORT
