Government’s Digitech ‘app store’ looks like a Grade 8 IT project
Note to Editors: Please find an attached soundbite by Solly Malatsi MP
The DA will be submitting Parliamentary questions to determine who the developer of the Department of Communications and Digital Technology’s newly-launched Digitech website was, how much it cost, how much the maintenance and upkeep of the website will cost and whether the Department is satisfied with the quality of this website.
DigiTech, described as a platform for digital products/applications developed by SMMEs in South Africa was launched at the Gallagher Convention Centre on 17 May. The Department stated that it will grant ‘unmatched and unparalleled’ opportunities to the country as a whole.
However, the website is of an extremely low quality, and does not fulfil the function of an ‘app store’ at all. In fact, embarrassingly it is merely a collection of embedded promotional Youtube videos, which show only the left half the video!
Furthermore, reports have stated that the registration page to list one’s app asks developers whether they understand the Foreign Trade Exchange act – a law which does not exist. Reports have also indicated that ID numbers provided on the website are insecure, and have been found to be leaked on different government websites. The website therefore appears to be highly unsecure for users.