THE CURRENT DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION LANDSCAPE OF THE STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AGENCY, SOUTH AFRICA
This study analyses the digital transformation of the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) in South Africa, highlighting persistent public sector challenges such as poor service delivery and overlapping mandates. It explores how technology can enhance services while reducing costs despite obstacles like a lack of technical expertise and unequal access to devices. The primary aim is to assess SITA's digital transformation, evaluate its readiness to provide and maintain digital government services and offer strategic recommendations to enhance these efforts. The study employs a qualitative research design involving semi-structured interviews with a sample of selected participants from the target population of nearly three thousand SITA employees. A review of relevant documents, such as strategic plans and progress reports, was also employed for this study. Thematic analysis is used to interpret data patterns. Findings indicate that while SITA has made significant progress in adopting advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and cloud computing, it still faces challenges such as legislative barriers and skills gaps. Effective stakeholder engagement and strategic alignment of resources are critical to the success of digital transformation. This study aids the South African public sector by providing insights and strategic recommendations to improve digital service delivery and operational efficiency. It informs policy and strategic decisions for other public sector entities undergoing similar digital transformation journeys.
Digital Transformation; Digital Services; Digital Infrastructure; Public Sector; Digital Government; SITA, Digital Skills.