Entries for GovTech ICT Awards open: enter now!

"Our ICT Public Service Awards will also highlight aspects such as leadership excellence in IT operations and transformation of the business of government through effective technology use," says Dr Setumo Mohapi, CEO of the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), which hosts GovTech and which devised and sponsors the ICT Public Service Awards.

These awards aim to provide a platform to recognise excellence and acknowledge government institutions and ICT players from any other sphere who have used technology to improve the lives of our citizens, he says.

Those that make a difference

Awards will be presented for outstanding ICT achievement in seven categories. The first three categories recognise outstanding ICT service delivery, an outstanding ICT product or service or outstanding ICT transformation at national, provincial and local government levels. Of the two awards for business, the first recognises ICT product or project innovation and service transformation by start-ups and SMMEs with a turnover of less than R10 million a year. The second is for larger companies, with turnover of more than R10 million a year, recognising their outstanding impact on service delivery of an ICT product or project to citizens.

Individuals who make a difference in the ICT sector are recognised in two categories. The first category rewards the contribution women make to the ICT industry and to professional development within it. The second rewards youth - entrants should be under 35 years and the winner will be a young ICT achiever recognised for an outstanding contribution to the industry's growth and development. Entrants or nominees for these two categories must be prepared to be interviewed if shortlisted.

"When we select our winners, we shall be looking at their innovative contributions, their impact on our citizens and society in general and any public-service transformation," says Mohapi. "This is part of our efforts to raise the benchmark in the ICT sector and we shall be recognising and rewarding products and solutions of all sizes."

Awarding contributions to improved service delivery

The awards build on several other key SITA projects including the Software Development Challenge, the Youth Development Programme and TechnoGirl. Mohapi looks forward to the awards promoting successfully applied projects and solutions that contribute to improved service delivery.

Appropriately, the umbrella theme for GovTech 2015 is Partnering for Service Delivery, with a sub-theme of Connecting Communities for Development and Growth. GovTech 2015 is supported by a range of conference partners. Telkom is the Key Event Partner, EOH is the Hospitality Partner and MTN is the Executive Partner. Technology partners are: Mustek Limited, Tarsus, SecureData and CEOS Technologies. "We are delighted to launch our ICT Public Service Delivery Awards at GovTech later this month and we feel sure the awards will immediately become as sought-after as attendance at our annual GovTech conferences," says Mohapi.

To enter the ICT Public Service Awards or for more information go to GovTech.