Public Comment Invited on South Africa’s New Digital Government Policy Framework

South Africa’s Department of Public Service and Administration opens public consultation on new Digital Government Policy Framework.

The South African Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has officially gazetted the much-anticipated Digital Government Policy Framework (DGPF) [download it here] for public comment, with the deadline set for 20 October 2024. This framework is poised to bring significant transformation to the public service, aiming to improve efficiency, enhance citizen access to services, and modernise government operations through digital technology.

A Framework for the Digital Era.

The DGPF is a culmination of years of development aimed at addressing the technological challenges and opportunities that the public sector faces. It builds on the 2018 Digital Government Maturity Assessment, which identified gaps in digital adoption within the public service.

According to DPSA, the framework is aligned with South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 and seeks to modernise public service delivery, address policy instability, and enhance the country’s digital infrastructure.

Key Features of the Framework

The DGPF lays out a comprehensive roadmap for digital transformation, focusing on several key policy domains. Below are some of the most critical aspects:

1. • Citizen-Centric Service Delivery
     One of the core pillars of the framework is to make public services more accessible and responsive to the needs of citizens. The framework encourages the design of digital services in collaboration with citizens, ensuring that services are paperless, cashless, frictionless, and accessible anytime and anywhere.
     

1. • Data Governance
     Effective data management is crucial to the success of digital government. The framework promotes a centralised approach to data governance across government departments, ensuring data is secure, accessible, and used proactively to enhance service delivery. It also emphasises the importance of protecting citizens’ personal data in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
     

1. • Leadership and Coordination
     The framework calls for high leadership involvement in digital transformation efforts, including establishing inter-ministerial committees and provincial task teams. These structures are designed to ensure digital transformation is coordinated effectively across all government levels.
     

1. • Open Government and Citizen Engagement
     The DGPF promotes the principles of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), advocating for transparency, accountability, and citizen participation. It encourages open data platforms, where citizens can access government data and open-source software, to drive innovation and improve public trust.
     

1. • Modernisation of Digital Technologies
     The framework recognises the need to modernise outdated government systems. It outlines the implementation of a Digital Government Technology Platform (DGTP), which will allow the public service to adopt advanced digital technologies more rapidly. The focus will be on shared infrastructure, collaboration technologies, and common data centres, ensuring a seamless digital experience for government departments and citizens.
     

1. • Digital Skills Development
     The framework highlights the need to build digital skills within the public service to support digital transformation. The DGPF recommends training government employees at all levels to ensure they can effectively implement and manage digital services. This training will be supported by the existing National Digital and Future Skills Strategy, ensuring the public service is equipped for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
     

Public Participation and Next Steps

The gazetting of the DGPF for public comment underscores the DPSA’s commitment to involving citizens in shaping South Africa’s digital future. The public is encouraged to submit their views by 20 October 2024. The DPSA will review the feedback once the consultation period concludes, and a final policy framework will be published, paving the way for its formal adoption.

The Department of Public Service and Administration invites you to comment on the draft Digital Government Policy Framework.

The Draft Digital Government Policy Framework proposes to provide guiding principles to identify and develop policies required to transform the public service using digital technologies.

Comments can be emailed to Tshifihiwa Mudau at Tshifhiwa.Mudau@dpsa.gov.za or NtsimaneN@dpsa.gov.za by no later than Sunday, 20 October 2024 at 12h00.

This framework represents a major step forward for South Africa’s public service, signalling the government’s readiness to embrace digital transformation and position the country as a global digital governance leader. The DPSA’s efforts aim to ensure that all South Africans benefit from improved, efficient, and transparent public services.

For more information on the Digital Government Policy Framework or to submit your comments, visit the DPSA website.